Atom Quote by Francis William Aston
![“Should the research worker of the future discover some means of releasing this [atomic] energy in a form which could be employed, the human race will have at its command powers beyond the dream of scientific fiction, but the remotest possibility must always be considered that the energy once…” quote by Francis William Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ff/francis-william-aston-44310_atom_should-the-research-worker-of-the-future_1221591.jpg)
“Should the research worker of the future discover some means of releasing this [atomic] energy in a form which could be employed, the human race will have at its command powers beyond the dream of scientific fiction, but the remotest possibility must always be considered that the energy once liberated will be completely uncontrollable and by its intense violence detonate all neighbouring substances. In this event, the whole of the hydrogen on earth might be transformed at once and the success of the experiment published at large to the universe as a new star.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public lecture on atomic energy, date unknown
The quote warns that unlocking atomic energy could give humanity immense power but also poses catastrophic uncontrollable risks, potentially causing massive destruction.
In simple terms: Atomic power offers great potential and great danger.
Key Takeaway
Balance innovation with safety.
Themes
science
responsibility
risk
technology
ethics
Mood
cautious
serious
reflective
Type
warning
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- research labs
- energy industry
- public safety
- environmental planning
Key Concepts
nuclear physics
existential risk
energy control
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we ensure safe development of powerful technologies?
- What safeguards are essential for nuclear research?
A Different Perspective
The promise of power may be overstated without addressing containment challenges.
![“Should the research worker of the future discover some means of releasing this [atomic] energy in a form which could be employed, the human race will have at its command powers beyond the dream of scientific fiction.” quote by Francis William Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/95d/francis-william-aston-44310_atomic-energy_should-the-research-worker-of-the-future_1627368.jpg)
![“[Donald] Trump: he'd probably declare in Hiroshima that he'd nuke half of Asia if it would help the West to retain its control over the world. At least one would not harbor any false hopes.” quote by Andre Vltchek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1ee/andre-vltchek-5249_asia_donald-trump-he-d-probably-declare-in-hi_900895.jpg)
![“If the atoms in [a] decimetre cube of lead were all put into a chain side by side the same distance apart as they are in the normal lead, the strings of atoms so formed would reach over six million million miles.” quote by Francis William Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e13/francis-william-aston-44310_atoms_if-the-atoms-in-a-decimetre-cube-of-lead_2343157.jpg)
![“[S]uppose you make a hole in an ordinary evacuated electric light bulb and allow the air molecules to pass in at the rate of 1,000,000 a second, the bulb will become full of air in approximately 100,000,000 years.” quote by Francis William Aston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/247/francis-william-aston-44310_air_s-uppose-you-make-a-hole-in-an-ordinary_2762745.jpg)
