--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The H-bomb rather favors small nations…" description: "\"The H-bomb rather favors small nations that doesn't as yet possess it; they feel slightly more free to jostle other nations, having discovered that a c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/e-b-white-1448_bombs_the-h-bomb-rather-favors-small-nations-t_747765.png" --- # The H-bomb rather favors small nations that doesn't as yet… ![“The H-bomb rather favors small nations that doesn't as yet possess it; they feel slightly more free to jostle other nations, having discovered that a country can stick its tongue out quite far these days without provoking war, so horrible are war's consequences.” quote by E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/e-b-white-1448_bombs_the-h-bomb-rather-favors-small-nations-t_747765.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/e-b-white-1448_bombs_the-h-bomb-rather-favors-small-nations-t_747765.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5b/e-b-white-1448_bombs_the-h-bomb-rather-favors-small-nations-t_747765.png) > “The H-bomb rather favors small nations that doesn't as yet possess it; they feel slightly more free to jostle other nations, having discovered that a country can stick its tongue out quite far these days without provoking war, so horrible are war's consequences.” [E. B. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-white/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small states without nuclear weapons may act more boldly, believing they can provoke less severe retaliation. **In simple terms:** Smaller nations might feel freer without nukes. Key Takeaway Consider the risks of nuclear imbalance. Themes power nuclear deterrence geopolitics Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - diplomacy - military planning - international relations Key Concepts realism strategic instability Questions to Reflect On - How does nuclear asymmetry affect global stability? - What alternatives exist to prevent aggression? A Different Perspective Nuclear capability can both deter and embolden actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [Nuclear power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-power/) [Small nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-nations/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I renounce war for its consequences, for the lies it lives on and propagates, for the undying hatred it arouses, for the dictatorships it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/i-renounce-war-for-its-consequences-for-the-lies-it-lives-on-and/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [The day of small nations has passed away; the day of Empires has come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/the-day-of-small-nations-has-passed-away-the-day-of-empires-has-come/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [However much we may sympathize with a small nation confronted by a big and powerful neighbor, we cannot in all circumstances undertake to involve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neville-chamberlain/however-much-we-may-sympathize-with-a-small-nation-confronted-by-a/) [Neville Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neville-chamberlain/) > [Could he not find in his heart the generosity to acknowledge that there is a small nation that stood alone not for one year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon-de-valera/could-he-not-find-in-his-heart-the-generosity-to-acknowledge-that/) [Eamon de Valera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon-de-valera/) > [There are perfectly good independent small nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-attenborough/there-are-perfectly-good-independent-small-nations/) [David Attenborough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-attenborough/) > [As we have seen, the wireless and the airplane have made the world so small and nations so dependent on each other that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyd-orr/as-we-have-seen-the-wireless-and-the-airplane-have-made-the-world-so/) [John Boyd Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyd-orr/) > [War has become a luxury that only small nations can afford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/war-has-become-a-luxury-that-only-small-nations-can-afford/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [A small nation can fight a superpower with determination and dedication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velupillai-prabhakaran/a-small-nation-can-fight-a-superpower-with-determination-and/) [Velupillai Prabhakaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velupillai-prabhakaran/) > [The day of small nations has long passed away. The day of Empires has come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chamberlain/the-day-of-small-nations-has-long-passed-away-the-day-of-empires-has/) [Joseph Chamberlain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chamberlain/) > [The studios still had development programs for young people. Because you weren't talking about the budgets of small nations the way you are now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margot-kidder/the-studios-still-had-development-programs-for-young-people-because/) [Margot Kidder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margot-kidder/) > [Every Cuban has a house to live in, no matter how meager. That house is provided by government. Every Cuban who gets sick can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/every-cuban-has-a-house-to-live-in-no-matter-how-meager-that-house-is/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [Small nations are like indecently dressed women. They tempt the evil-minded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/small-nations-are-like-indecently-dressed-women-they-tempt-the-evil/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Before peace between the nations, we have to find peace inside that small nation which is our own being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/before-peace-between-the-nations-we-have-to-find-peace-inside-that/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Of all the small nations of this earth, perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/of-all-the-small-nations-of-this-earth-perhaps-only-the-ancient/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [The Jews are the most hateful and the most shameful of the small nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reginald-mckenna/the-jews-are-the-most-hateful-and-the-most-shameful-of-the-small/) Reginald McKenna ## More by E. B. White > [Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-white/writing-is-an-act-of-faith-not-a-trick-of-grammar/) [E. B. 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