--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact that no limits exist to the…" description: "\"The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon [the 'Super', i.e. the hydrogen bomb] makes its very existence and the knowledge of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/enrico-fermi-22764_believe_the-fact-that-no-limits-exist-to-the-des_2218614.jpg" --- # The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of… ![“The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon [the 'Super', i.e. the hydrogen bomb] makes its very existence and the knowledge of its construction a danger to humanity as a whole. It is necessarily an evil thing considered in any light. For these reasons, we believe it…” quote by Enrico Fermi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/enrico-fermi-22764_believe_the-fact-that-no-limits-exist-to-the-des_2218614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/enrico-fermi-22764_believe_the-fact-that-no-limits-exist-to-the-des_2218614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/enrico-fermi-22764_believe_the-fact-that-no-limits-exist-to-the-des_2218614.jpg) > “The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon \[the 'Super', i.e. the hydrogen bomb\] makes its very existence and the knowledge of its construction a danger to humanity as a whole. It is necessarily an evil thing considered in any light. For these reasons, we believe it important for the President of the United States to tell the American public and the world what we think is wrong on fundamental ethical principles to initiate the development of such a weapon.” [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. Uncontrolled development of destructive weapons threatens humanity; leaders must speak against it. **In simple terms:** Weapons can destroy humanity; speak out. Key Takeaway Advocate ethical limits on weapons. Themes ethics war technology Mood concerned urgent Type political ethical When to use this quote - policy debates - international treaties - public education Key Concepts destruction global safety political responsibility Questions to Reflect On - What responsibilities do scientists have in weapon development? - How can public pressure influence policy? A Different Perspective None;null ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Hydrogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hydrogen/) [Hydrogen bomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hydrogen-bomb/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Limits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limits/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [The pace of science forces the pace of technique. Theoretical physics forces atomic energy on us; the successful production of the fission bomb forces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-pace-of-science-forces-the-pace-of-technique-theoretical-physics/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [I propose getting rid of conventional armaments and replacing them with reasonably priced hydrogen bombs that will be distributed equally throughout the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idi-amin/i-propose-getting-rid-of-conventional-armaments-and-replacing-them/) [Idi Amin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idi-amin/) > [ There is a further advantage \[to hydrogen bombs\]: the supply of uranium in the planet is very limited, and it might be feared that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/there-is-a-further-advantage-to-hydrogen-bombs-the-supply-of-uranium/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Teller contended, not implausibly, that hydrogen bombs keep the peace, or at least prevent thermonuclear war, because the consequences of warfare between nuclear powers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/teller-contended-not-implausibly-that-hydrogen-bombs-keep-the-peace/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [The president's decision yesterday to set into motion the development of the hydrogen bomb... has placed us on the knife-edge of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-president-s-decision-yesterday-to-set-into-motion-the-development/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Had we not pursued the hydrogen bomb, there is a very real threat that we would now all be speaking Russian. I have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teller/had-we-not-pursued-the-hydrogen-bomb-there-is-a-very-real-threat-that/) [Edward Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teller/) > [I happened to read recently a remark by the American nuclear physicist W. Davidson, who noted that the explosion of one hydrogen bomb releases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-khrushchev/i-happened-to-read-recently-a-remark-by-the-american-nuclear/) [Nikita Khrushchev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-khrushchev/) > [Only the power of unbounded love practiced in regard to all human beings can defeat the forces of interhuman strife, and can prevent the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pitirim-sorokin/only-the-power-of-unbounded-love-practiced-in-regard-to-all-human/) [Pitirim Sorokin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pitirim-sorokin/) > [It is impossible, except for theologians, to conceive of a world-wide scandal or a universe-wide scandal; the proof of this is the way people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/it-is-impossible-except-for-theologians-to-conceive-of-a-world-wide/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [A hydrogen bomb, for me, was puny compared to the Big Bang - the creation of the universe. That's what I really wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michio-kaku/a-hydrogen-bomb-for-me-was-puny-compared-to-the-big-bang-the-creation/) [Michio Kaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michio-kaku/) > [Everything has changed except the way man thinks (when the hydrogen bomb was exploded)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-has-changed-except-the-way-man-thinks-when-the-hydrogen/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I lose my temper, but it's all over in a minute," said the student. "So is the hydrogen bomb," I replied. "But think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sweeting/i-lose-my-temper-but-it-s-all-over-in-a-minute-said-the-student-so-is/) [George Sweeting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sweeting/) > [I know that I could make this world peaceful and calm, if I only could get my hands on a hydrogen bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-rundgren/i-know-that-i-could-make-this-world-peaceful-and-calm-if-i-only-could/) [Todd Rundgren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-rundgren/) > [It may be that ... when the advance of destructive weapons enables everyone to kill everybody else nobody will want to kill anyone at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/it-may-be-that-when-the-advance-of-destructive-weapons-enables/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fact that no limits exist to the destructiveness of this weapon [the 'Super', i.e. the hydrogen bomb] makes its very existence and the knowledge of its construction a danger to humanity as a whole. It is necessarily an evil thing considered in any light. 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