--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is clear that the use of such a weapon…" description: "\"“It is clear that the use of such a weapon cannot be justified on any ethical ground which gives a human being a certain individuality and dignity even..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/enrico-fermi-22764_justified_it-is-clear-that-the-use-of-such-a-weapo_3118533.jpg" --- # It is clear that the use of such a weapon cannot be… ![“It is clear that the use of such a weapon cannot be justified on any ethical ground which gives a human being a certain individuality and dignity even if he happens to be a resident of an enemy country.” quote by Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/enrico-fermi-22764_justified_it-is-clear-that-the-use-of-such-a-weapo_3118533.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/enrico-fermi-22764_justified_it-is-clear-that-the-use-of-such-a-weapo_3118533.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/542/enrico-fermi-22764_justified_it-is-clear-that-the-use-of-such-a-weapo_3118533.jpg) > ““It is clear that the use of such a weapon cannot be justified on any ethical ground which gives a human being a certain individuality and dignity even if he happens to be a resident of an enemy country.”” [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Using a weapon that indiscriminately harms civilians cannot be morally justified, regardless of the target's nationality. **In simple terms:** Weapons that kill innocents are unethical. Key Takeaway Reject weapons that harm civilians. Themes war ethics human rights weaponry morality Mood serious concerned Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - military policy - humanitarian law - public debate - policy making Key Concepts just war theory human dignity international law Questions to Reflect On - Is any weapon ever morally permissible? - How do we balance security with human dignity? A Different Perspective Even in war, some actions may be deemed unacceptable by universal moral standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) ## Related quotes > [The obligation to earn one's bread by the sweat of one's brow also presumes the right to do so. 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It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/some-use-it-as-a-weapon-others-as-a-shield-without-it-you-would-most/) [Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/) > [I was bright, and I could use that as a weapon: words can wound, whatever those sticks and stones sayings claim about them never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-was-bright-and-i-could-use-that-as-a-weapon-words-can-wound/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I'm not a man. I have no male pride for you to trick me with, and I am not interested in single combat. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-m-not-a-man-i-have-no-male-pride-for-you-to-trick-me-with-and-i-am/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“You're of use because you're more than a weapon. When your wife died, she didn't just give you a vendetta. 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He gave ordinary people the courage to live with uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/moses-became-america-s-true-founding-father-because-he-evangelized/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [As far as I know, the question of whether and how it could be strategically or morally justified was never the subject of open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-as-i-know-the-question-of-whether-and-how-it-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Enrico Fermi > [I remember my friend Johnny von Neumann used to say, 'with four parameters I can fit an elephant and with five I can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-remember-my-friend-johnny-von-neumann-used-to-say-with-four/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [Whatever Nature has in store for mankind, unpleasant as it may be, men must accept, for ignorance is never better than knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/whatever-nature-has-in-store-for-mankind-unpleasant-as-it-may-be-men/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [ \[on what characteristics Nobel prize winning physicists had in common\] I cannot think of a single one, not even intelligence. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/on-what-characteristics-nobel-prize-winning-physicists-had-in-common/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [I hope it won't take long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/i-hope-it-won-t-take-long/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [There are two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a measurement. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/there-are-two-possible-outcomes-if-the-result-confirms-the-hypothesis/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [It is no good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/it-is-no-good-to-try-to-stop-knowledge-from-going-forward-ignorance/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [“The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon makes its very existence and the knowledge of its construction a danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/the-fact-that-no-limits-exist-to-the-destructiveness-of-this-weapon/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [An experiment disproving a prediction is discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/an-experiment-disproving-a-prediction-is-discovery/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [Some people stick with the traditional, feeling struck by the epic beauty or blown away by the insane scale of the universe. Personally, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/some-people-stick-with-the-traditional-feeling-struck-by-the-epic/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [Where is everybody? Humans could theoretically colonize the galaxy in a million years or so, and if they could, astronauts from older civilizations could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/where-is-everybody-humans-could-theoretically-colonize-the-galaxy-in/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [Before I came here I was confused about this subject. Having listened to your lecture I am still confused. But on a higher level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/before-i-came-here-i-was-confused-about-this-subject-having-listened/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [Experimental confirmation of a prediction is merely a measurement. An experiment disproving a prediction is a discovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/experimental-confirmation-of-a-prediction-is-merely-a-measurement-an/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [Although the problem of transmuting chemical elements into each other is much older than a satisfactory definition of the very concept of chemical element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/although-the-problem-of-transmuting-chemical-elements-into-each-other/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [Ignorance is never better than knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/ignorance-is-never-better-than-knowledge/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) > [The fundamental point in fabricating a chain reacting machine is of course to see to it that each fission produces a certain number of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrico-fermi/the-fundamental-point-in-fabricating-a-chain-reacting-machine-is-of/) [Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) [Explore all 27 Enrico Fermi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrico-fermi/) ## More Justified quotes > [Although under particular circumstances, the violence method - any method - can be justified, nevertheless once you commit violence, then counterviolence will be returned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/although-under-particular-circumstances-the-violence-method-any/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [As far as I know, the question of whether and how it could be strategically or morally justified was never the subject of open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-far-as-i-know-the-question-of-whether-and-how-it-could-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Moses became America's true founding father because he evangelized action; he justified risk. He gave ordinary people the courage to live with uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/moses-became-america-s-true-founding-father-because-he-evangelized/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [“There are things that have to be done and you do them and you never talk about them.They can't be justified.You just do them.Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-puzo/there-are-things-that-have-to-be-done-and-you-do-them-and-you-never/) [Mario Puzo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-puzo/) > [The property of the people belongs to the people. 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I do believe that. I think religion stops people from thinking. 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