--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The energy produced by the breaking down…" description: "\"The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of thes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ernest-rutherford-13268_atomic-energy_the-energy-produced-by-the-breaking-down_896771.png" --- # The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a… ![“The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine.” quote by Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ernest-rutherford-13268_atomic-energy_the-energy-produced-by-the-breaking-down_896771.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ernest-rutherford-13268_atomic-energy_the-energy-produced-by-the-breaking-down_896771.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/680/ernest-rutherford-13268_atomic-energy_the-energy-produced-by-the-breaking-down_896771.png) > “The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of these atoms is talking moonshine.” [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Atomic energy release is inefficient and unreliable for practical power; expectations are unrealistic. **In simple terms:** Atomic power is weak and impractical. Key Takeaway Seek realistic energy solutions. Themes science energy technology Mood cautious reflective Type scientific historical When to use this quote - industrial power - research labs - policy planning Key Concepts nuclear physics energy efficiency Questions to Reflect On - What limits did early scientists face? - How do we balance optimism with feasibility? A Different Perspective Nuclear power later became viable despite early doubts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atomic energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atomic-energy/) [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Breaking down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-down/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) ## Related quotes > [When people talk of atoms obeying fixed laws, they are either ascribing some kind of intelligence and free will to atoms or they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/when-people-talk-of-atoms-obeying-fixed-laws-they-are-either/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [Your contribution is the energy produced in the doing of something, not the end product.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penney-peirce/your-contribution-is-the-energy-produced-in-the-doing-of-something/) [Penney Peirce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penney-peirce/) > [The transition from coal, oil, and gas to wind, solar, and geothermal energy is well under way. In the old economy, energy was produced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/the-transition-from-coal-oil-and-gas-to-wind-solar-and-geothermal/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [“Energy can’t be produced, or destroyed. It can be just transformed, from one form to another. The same rule applies to the soul. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/energy-can-t-be-produced-or-destroyed-it-can-be-just-transformed-from/) [Vikrmn: CA Vikram Verma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrmn-ca-vikram-verma/) > [If you're really concerned about CO2, you'd want to have every drop of energy produced in the United States. We do it cleaner, safer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-burgum/if-you-re-really-concerned-about-co2-you-d-want-to-have-every-drop-of/) [Doug Burgum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-burgum/) > [Anyone who expects a source of power from the transformation of the atom is talking moonshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/anyone-who-expects-a-source-of-power-from-the-transformation-of-the/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“Ray, I’ve run my last run of moonshine, I'm not gonna do it anymore, I'm just getting too old to be doing this stuff.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/popcorn-sutton/ray-i-ve-run-my-last-run-of-moonshine-i-m-not-gonna-do-it-anymore-i-m/) Popcorn Sutton > [We do ourselves as politicians no favours if we are seen to peddle unachievable moonshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/we-do-ourselves-as-politicians-no-favours-if-we-are-seen-to-peddle/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [All talk of winning the people by appealing to their intelligence, of conquering them by impeccable syllogism, is so much moonshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/all-talk-of-winning-the-people-by-appealing-to-their-intelligence-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We are here and it is now. Further than that, all human knowledge is moonshine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/we-are-here-and-it-is-now-further-than-that-all-human-knowledge-is/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [A seamlessly told and scrupulously detailed history of the Hartsoe clan of Haw County, North Carolina, Love and Lament is that rare novel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-r-pearson-2/a-seamlessly-told-and-scrupulously-detailed-history-of-the-hartsoe/) T. R. Pearson > [All talk of women's rights is moonshine. Women have every right. They have only to exercise them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-woodhull/all-talk-of-women-s-rights-is-moonshine-women-have-every-right-they/) [Victoria Woodhull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-woodhull/) > [I confess, without shame, that I am sick and tired of fighting — its glory is all moonshine; even success the most brilliant is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tecumseh-sherman/i-confess-without-shame-that-i-am-sick-and-tired-of-fighting-its/) [William Tecumseh Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tecumseh-sherman/) > [You can tell it's good if you light it and a blue flame comes up; that means it's good moonshine and it won't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-knoxville/you-can-tell-it-s-good-if-you-light-it-and-a-blue-flame-comes-up-that/) [Johnny Knoxville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-knoxville/) > [Now behind the eyes and secrets of the dreamers in the streets rocked to sleep by the sea, see the titbits and topsyturvies, bobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-thomas/now-behind-the-eyes-and-secrets-of-the-dreamers-in-the-streets-rocked/) [Dylan Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-thomas/) ## More by Ernest Rutherford > [It was almost as incredible as if you fired a 15-inch shell at a piece of tissue paper and it came back to hit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-was-almost-as-incredible-as-if-you-fired-a-15-inch-shell-at-a/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Physics is the only real science. The rest are just stamp collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/physics-is-the-only-real-science-the-rest-are-just-stamp-collecting/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [From the results so far obtained it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the long-range atoms arising from collision of alpha particles with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/from-the-results-so-far-obtained-it-is-difficult-to-avoid-the/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“When we consider the magnitude and extent of his discoveries and their influence on the progress of science and of industry, there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/when-we-consider-the-magnitude-and-extent-of-his-discoveries-and/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [An alleged scientific discovery has no merit unless it can be explained to a barmaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/an-alleged-scientific-discovery-has-no-merit-unless-it-can-be/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [A good scientific theory should be explicable to a barmaid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/a-good-scientific-theory-should-be-explicable-to-a-barmaid/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Gentlemen, now you will see that now you see nothing. And why you see nothing you will see presently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/gentlemen-now-you-will-see-that-now-you-see-nothing-and-why-you-see/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [ The great object is to find the theory of the matter \[of X-rays\] before anyone else, for nearly every professor in Europe is now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/the-great-object-is-to-find-the-theory-of-the-matter-of-x-rays-before/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [It is essential for men of science to take an interest in the administration of their own affairs or else the professional civil servant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/it-is-essential-for-men-of-science-to-take-an-interest-in-the/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [All science is either physics or stamp collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/all-science-is-either-physics-or-stamp-collecting/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [You should never bet against anything in science at odds of more than about 1012 to 1.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/you-should-never-bet-against-anything-in-science-at-odds-of-more-than/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [“We haven't got the money, so we'll have to think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/we-haven-t-got-the-money-so-we-ll-have-to-think/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Radioactivity is shown to be accompanied by chemical changes in which new types of matter are being continually produced. … The conclusion is drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/radioactivity-is-shown-to-be-accompanied-by-chemical-changes-in-which/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [ \[From uranium\] there are present at least two distinct types of radiation one that is very readily absorbed, which will be termed for convenience… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/from-uranium-there-are-present-at-least-two-distinct-types-of/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) > [Of all created comforts, God is the lender; you are the borrower, not the owner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-rutherford/of-all-created-comforts-god-is-the-lender-you-are-the-borrower-not/) [Ernest Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) [Explore all 51 Ernest Rutherford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-rutherford/) ## More Atomic energy quotes > [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/) > [Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, None but ourselves can free our minds. Have no fear for atomic energy, 'Cause none of them can stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/emancipate-yourself-from-mental-slavery-none-but-ourselves-can-free/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem. It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-release-of-atomic-energy-has-not-created-a-new-problem-it-has/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [This is the age of electrical energy. The age of atomic energy hasn't really dawned yet, not in the way that atomic energy has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/this-is-the-age-of-electrical-energy-the-age-of-atomic-energy-hasn-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The International Atomic Energy Agency is controlling this, the sanctions against Iran are lifted - but still the US are working on their missile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/the-international-atomic-energy-agency-is-controlling-this-the/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [We live technologically, with man as the master of nature, man as the engineer, and let anyone who raises his voice against it stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/we-live-technologically-with-man-as-the-master-of-nature-man-as-the/) [Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/) > [In the increasingly mechanized, automated, cybernated environment of the modern world a cold, bodiless world of wheels, smooth plastic surfaces, tubes, pushbuttons, transistors, computers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldridge-cleaver/in-the-increasingly-mechanized-automated-cybernated-environment-of/) [Eldridge Cleaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldridge-cleaver/) > [There is no likelihood man can ever tap the power of the atom. The glib supposition of utilizing atomic energy when our coal has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-andrews-millikan/there-is-no-likelihood-man-can-ever-tap-the-power-of-the-atom-the/) [Robert Andrews Millikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-andrews-millikan/) > [Almost all of the governments have agreed that they will not acquire nuclear weapons and that they will allow the International Atomic Energy Agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/almost-all-of-the-governments-have-agreed-that-they-will-not-acquire/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [We have got to accept Big Government for the duration-for neither an offensive nor a defensive war can be waged, given our present government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-f-buckley-jr/we-have-got-to-accept-big-government-for-the-duration-for-neither-an/) [William F. Buckley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-f-buckley-jr/) > [The big problem for atomic energy is that it can't compete on price with the new age of cheap shale gas and, to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moore/the-big-problem-for-atomic-energy-is-that-it-can-t-compete-on-price/) [Stephen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moore/) > [Private enterprise did not get us atomic energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/private-enterprise-did-not-get-us-atomic-energy/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [ \[The human control of atomic energy could\] virtually provide anyone who wanted it with a private sun of his own. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-soddy/the-human-control-of-atomic-energy-could-virtually-provide-anyone-who/) [Frederick Soddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-soddy/) > [It is critically important that Iran should not develop nuclear weapons. And that the necessary interventions need to be made by the International Atomic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/it-is-critically-important-that-iran-should-not-develop-nuclear/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Few nations have been as reliant on nuclear power as Korea. In many ways, cheap and reliable atomic energy helped make possible the 'miracle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moore/few-nations-have-been-as-reliant-on-nuclear-power-as-korea-in-many/) [Stephen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moore/) [Browse all 61 Atomic energy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atomic-energy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The energy produced by the breaking down of the atom is a very poor kind of thing. 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