--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In a nuclear war, even if one side were…" description: "\"In a nuclear war, even if one side were to come out ahead by systems analytical standards, both sides would be so weakened, that it would - they would ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/henry-a-kissinger-1068_both-sides_in-a-nuclear-war-even-if-one-side-were-t_2626888.jpg" --- # In a nuclear war, even if one side were to come out ahead… ![“In a nuclear war, even if one side were to come out ahead by systems analytical standards, both sides would be so weakened, that it would - they would be in the position of Europe after the two World Wars.” quote by Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/henry-a-kissinger-1068_both-sides_in-a-nuclear-war-even-if-one-side-were-t_2626888.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/henry-a-kissinger-1068_both-sides_in-a-nuclear-war-even-if-one-side-were-t_2626888.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/850/henry-a-kissinger-1068_both-sides_in-a-nuclear-war-even-if-one-side-were-t_2626888.jpg) > “In a nuclear war, even if one side were to come out ahead by systems analytical standards, both sides would be so weakened, that it would - they would be in the position of Europe after the two World Wars.” [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even a victorious side in nuclear war would be devastated, similar to post‑World War Europe. **In simple terms:** War leaves all sides weakened. Key Takeaway Seek diplomatic solutions over conflict. Themes war destruction fragility Mood cautious analytical Type political strategic When to use this quote - military planning - policy making - international relations Key Concepts deterrence geopolitics Questions to Reflect On - How can nations prevent mutual ruin? - What alternatives exist to deterrence? A Different Perspective Assumes rational actors; may ignore asymmetrical outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Both sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) [Europe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/europe/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War of the worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-of-the-worlds/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Greece's position in Europe will not be put in doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonis-samaras/greece-s-position-in-europe-will-not-be-put-in-doubt/) [Antonis Samaras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonis-samaras/) > [We've lost more men to homosexuality than we ever did in two world wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erica-jong/we-ve-lost-more-men-to-homosexuality-than-we-ever-did-in-two-world/) [Erica Jong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erica-jong/) > [Think of Europe in the 20th century. Two World Wars generated by nationalism. France, Germany, Britain fighting with each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/think-of-europe-in-the-20th-century-two-world-wars-generated-by/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [We must never again let America be led into a fratricidal war like the last two world wars, for the sake of alien, minority…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lincoln-rockwell/we-must-never-again-let-america-be-led-into-a-fratricidal-war-like/) [George Lincoln Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lincoln-rockwell/) > [This is a story of a period between two World Wars — an interim in which insanity cut loose. Liberty took a nose dive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-chaplin/this-is-a-story-of-a-period-between-two-world-wars-an-interim-in/) [Charlie Chaplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-chaplin/) > [The two world wars boosted American power and devastated potential rivals to an extent that could not have lasted more than a few decades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-bremmer/the-two-world-wars-boosted-american-power-and-devastated-potential/) [Ian Bremmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-bremmer/) > [Two World Wars are sufficient and we are the ones who supported this notion of a united Europe, so there would never be another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-fried/two-world-wars-are-sufficient-and-we-are-the-ones-who-supported-this/) [Daniel Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-fried/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [That sense of what happened in Europe in World War II has shaped a lot of my views.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/that-sense-of-what-happened-in-europe-in-world-war-ii-has-shaped-a/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [The world is full of negativity and scary news, terrible things happening. And then we have Eurovision, which is like the whole of Europe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saara-aalto/the-world-is-full-of-negativity-and-scary-news-terrible-things/) [Saara Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saara-aalto/) > [Europe and the world are waiting for us to defend the spirit of the enlightenment everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-macron/europe-and-the-world-are-waiting-for-us-to-defend-the-spirit-of-the/) [Emmanuel Macron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-macron/) > [Europe and the first world to which the United States belongs remain mostly white for now, and the third world, although mixed, contains a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-wax/europe-and-the-first-world-to-which-the-united-states-belongs-remain/) [Amy Wax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-wax/) > [The international wrestling scene has so much growth opportunity - Asia, South America, Africa, Europe - all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-jarrett/the-international-wrestling-scene-has-so-much-growth-opportunity-asia/) [Jeff Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-jarrett/) > [I won the most important league in Europe, I think - not just Europe but the world - the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/i-won-the-most-important-league-in-europe-i-think-not-just-europe-but/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [As a player, I started in Serie C and got to the top of Europe and the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/as-a-player-i-started-in-serie-c-and-got-to-the-top-of-europe-and-the/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) ## More by Henry A. Kissinger > [90% of politicians give the other 10% a bad name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/90-of-politicians-give-the-other-10-a-bad-name/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I believe it is a mistake to isolate arms control from other areas of policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-believe-it-is-a-mistake-to-isolate-arms-control-from-other-areas-of/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [ Before the Freedom of Information Act, I used to say at meetings "The illegal we do immediately. The unconstitutional takes a little longer." \[...\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/before-the-freedom-of-information-act-i-used-to-say-at-meetings-the/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The convictions that leaders have formed before reaching high office are the intellectual capital they will consume as long as they continue in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-convictions-that-leaders-have-formed-before-reaching-high-office/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Nothing is more urgent than a serious, dare I say compassionate, debate as to where we are going at home and abroad. Technicians cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/nothing-is-more-urgent-than-a-serious-dare-i-say-compassionate-debate/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Jews were segregated from 1933 on. We could only play against other Jewish teams. This wasn't just social segregation; this was the beginning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/jews-were-segregated-from-1933-on-we-could-only-play-against-other/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [The Russian people, at least the ones I know, have pride in being a Russian. And, therefore, they want to be taken seriously in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/the-russian-people-at-least-the-ones-i-know-have-pride-in-being-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [There are only two reasons to sit in the back row of an airplane: Either you have diarrhea, or you're anxious to meet people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/there-are-only-two-reasons-to-sit-in-the-back-row-of-an-airplane/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [John Paul II was one of the greatest men of the last century. Perhaps the greatest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/john-paul-ii-was-one-of-the-greatest-men-of-the-last-century-perhaps/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Does anyone have any questions for my answers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/does-anyone-have-any-questions-for-my-answers/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Taiwan will probably not declare independence. The question isn't independence. The issue is whether Taiwan will declare itself as a sovereign separate state. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/taiwan-will-probably-not-declare-independence-the-question-isn-t/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [China is a country with a record of continuous self-government going back 4,000 years, the only society that has achieved this. One must start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/china-is-a-country-with-a-record-of-continuous-self-government-going/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [With proper tactics, nuclear war need not be as destructive as it appears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/with-proper-tactics-nuclear-war-need-not-be-as-destructive-as-it/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [I think a resumption of the Cold War would be a historic tragedy. If a conflict is avoidable, on a basis reflecting morality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/i-think-a-resumption-of-the-cold-war-would-be-a-historic-tragedy-if-a/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [University politics make me long for the simplicity of the Middle East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/university-politics-make-me-long-for-the-simplicity-of-the-middle-east/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) [Explore all 298 Henry A. Kissinger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) ## More Both sides quotes > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [Some of the folks on both sides might be sincere, but it does seem as if it is only the opposition that cares about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/some-of-the-folks-on-both-sides-might-be-sincere-but-it-does-seem-as/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [It's almost inevitable there's going to be an escalation on both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/it-s-almost-inevitable-there-s-going-to-be-an-escalation-on-both-sides/) Bill Luther > [I have yet to see someone attack Obama over his report card. A lot of people I talk to from both sides of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupe-fiasco/i-have-yet-to-see-someone-attack-obama-over-his-report-card-a-lot-of/) [Lupe Fiasco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupe-fiasco/) > [I have an office full of product from brands trying to be in videos and an inbox full of songs from artists, but at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kluger/i-have-an-office-full-of-product-from-brands-trying-to-be-in-videos/) [Adam Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kluger/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [When the war ends, it will be found that there was an equal amount of 'thuggery' practiced on both sides, that terrible things were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-jones/when-the-war-ends-it-will-be-found-that-there-was-an-equal-amount-of/) [Rufus Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-jones/) > [I find that Americans are all in the middle somewhere, except for the extreme nuts, and extreme nuts on both sides are the loudest.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-titus/i-find-that-americans-are-all-in-the-middle-somewhere-except-for-the/) [Christopher Titus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-titus/) > [My family was musical on both sides. My father's family had a famous flautist and a classical pianist. My mother won a contest to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-estefan/my-family-was-musical-on-both-sides-my-father-s-family-had-a-famous/) [Gloria Estefan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-estefan/) > [I come from a long line of saloon keepers and proselytizers, and I draw from both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-huntsman-jr/i-come-from-a-long-line-of-saloon-keepers-and-proselytizers-and-i/) [Jon Huntsman, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-huntsman-jr/) > [I usually accept bribes from both sides so that tainted money can never influence my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/i-usually-accept-bribes-from-both-sides-so-that-tainted-money-can/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [I really like seeing players like Ousmane Dembele and other players who can take corners from both sides and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude-bellingham/i-really-like-seeing-players-like-ousmane-dembele-and-other-players/) [Jude Bellingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude-bellingham/) > [I come from both sides of the spectrum: I grew up listening to hip-hop and R&B then learned how to make a track by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lotic/i-come-from-both-sides-of-the-spectrum-i-grew-up-listening-to-hip-hop/) [Lotic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lotic/) > [ \[Albert Camus\] positions are sensed. So, naturally, those intellectuals who don't have that experience have difficulty in comprehending it. But I think it made… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-camus/albert-camus-positions-are-sensed-so-naturally-those-intellectuals/) [Catherine Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-camus/) [Browse all 597 Both sides quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In a nuclear war, even if one side were to come out ahead by systems analytical standards, both sides would be so weakened, that it would - they would be in the position of Europe after the two World Wars.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry A. 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