Battlefields Quote by Gordon R. Sullivan
![“People are saying that they want be convinced [about global warming], perfectly. They want to know the climate science projections with 100 per cent certainty. Well, we know a great deal and even with that there is still uncertainty. But the trend line is very clear. We never have 100 per cent…” quote by Gordon R. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/27d/gordon-r-sullivan-54110_battlefields_people-are-saying-that-they-want-be-conv_2853383.jpg)
“People are saying that they want be convinced [about global warming], perfectly. They want to know the climate science projections with 100 per cent certainty. Well, we know a great deal and even with that there is still uncertainty. But the trend line is very clear. We never have 100 per cent certainty. We never have it. If you wait till you have 100 per cent certainty, something bad is going to happen on the battlefield. That's something we know. You have to act with incomplete information. You have to act based on the trend line...”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public remarks on climate policy, 2008
The speaker stresses that waiting for absolute certainty before acting on climate change is dangerous; decisions must be made using the best available trends despite inherent uncertainty.
In simple terms: Act on trends even if not 100% certain.
Key Takeaway
Make decisions with best‑available data.
Themes
risk management
climate action
uncertainty
decision making
Mood
cautious
urgent
pragmatic
Type
advisory
policy
strategic
When to use this quote
- policy formulation
- business planning
- personal lifestyle changes
- emergency response
Key Concepts
probabilistic reasoning
precautionary principle
systems thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can leaders balance uncertainty with urgency?
- What safeguards prevent premature decisions?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on certainty can paralyze action and ignore urgent risks.
