--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the news first came that Japan had…" description: "\"When the news first came that Japan had attacked us my first feeling was of relief that ... a crisis had come in a way which would unite all our people..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/henry-l-stimson-19815_catastrophe_when-the-news-first-came-that-japan-had_2788103.jpg" --- # When the news first came that Japan had attacked us my… ![“When the news first came that Japan had attacked us my first feeling was of relief that ... a crisis had come in a way which would unite all our people. This continued to be my dominant feeling in spite of the news of catastrophes which quickly developed.” quote by Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/henry-l-stimson-19815_catastrophe_when-the-news-first-came-that-japan-had_2788103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/henry-l-stimson-19815_catastrophe_when-the-news-first-came-that-japan-had_2788103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41c/henry-l-stimson-19815_catastrophe_when-the-news-first-came-that-japan-had_2788103.jpg) > “When the news first came that Japan had attacked us my first feeling was of relief that ... a crisis had come in a way which would unite all our people. This continued to be my dominant feeling in spite of the news of catastrophes which quickly developed.” [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker felt relief that a national crisis could unify the populace despite widespread disaster **In simple terms:** Relief that a crisis could bring people together Key Takeaway Recognize unity can arise from adversity Themes national crisis unity public sentiment Mood reflective determined Type historical political When to use this quote - wartime morale - government communication - public rallying - social cohesion Key Concepts psychology of crowd behavior political leadership Questions to Reflect On - How does crisis shape national identity? - When does unity become coercion? A Different Perspective Relief may mask deeper fear and loss; unity can be fragile ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catastrophe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catastrophe/) [Crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crisis/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Spite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spite/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [My memoirs were written, and a portion of them already in the hands of the publishers, when the startling news came which has thrilled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-boyd/my-memoirs-were-written-and-a-portion-of-them-already-in-the-hands-of/) [Belle Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-boyd/) > [“The news came early to the beggars in front of the church, and it made them giggle a little with pleasure, for they knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-news-came-early-to-the-beggars-in-front-of-the-church-and-it-made/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“But bad news came at night, as if the sun were already in mourning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-white/but-bad-news-came-at-night-as-if-the-sun-were-already-in-mourning/) [Karen White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-white/) > [If a crisis has come to you on any front, surrender your will to Jesus absolutely and irrevocably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-a-crisis-has-come-to-you-on-any-front-surrender-your-will-to-jesus/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [“Just when it felt like you were getting ahead of the game a little, some damn crisis or other would come along to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-smith/just-when-it-felt-like-you-were-getting-ahead-of-the-game-a-little/) Bryan Smith > [Most cases, I would say, in a huge amount of cases, countries that have worked with us and have used our financial facilities have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodrigo-rato/most-cases-i-would-say-in-a-huge-amount-of-cases-countries-that-have/) [Rodrigo Rato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodrigo-rato/) > [The moment of crisis had come, and I must face it. My old fears, my diffidence, my shyness, my hopeless sense of inferiority, must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-du-maurier/the-moment-of-crisis-had-come-and-i-must-face-it-my-old-fears-my/) [Daphne du Maurier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daphne-du-maurier/) > [Don't wait until you're in a crisis to come up with a crisis plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-mcgraw/don-t-wait-until-you-re-in-a-crisis-to-come-up-with-a-crisis-plan/) [Phil McGraw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-mcgraw/) > [“The best thing...perhaps the only good thing--about being in prison was a feeling of relief. The feeling that he'd plunged as low as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-best-thing-perhaps-the-only-good-thing-about-being-in-prison-was/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [“Feeling the relief of him taking her worries, knowing that he would stew on them, mix them all around and give them back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-marinaro/feeling-the-relief-of-him-taking-her-worries-knowing-that-he-would/) [Paula Marinaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-marinaro/) > [Completing a book, it's a little like having a baby… There's a feeling of relief and satisfaction when you get to the end. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-le-carre/completing-a-book-it-s-a-little-like-having-a-baby-there-s-a-feeling/) [John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-le-carre/) > [I remember the day after the general election when Harold Wilson had lost, I remember quite clearly cycling from my house in Hutton along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-hammond/i-remember-the-day-after-the-general-election-when-harold-wilson-had/) [Philip Hammond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-hammond/) > [“And there is another feeling that is a great consolation in poverty. I believe everyone who has been hard up has experienced it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/and-there-is-another-feeling-that-is-a-great-consolation-in-poverty-i/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [It is a feeling of relief, almost of pleasure, at knowing yourself at last genuinely down and out. You have talked so often of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/it-is-a-feeling-of-relief-almost-of-pleasure-at-knowing-yourself-at/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“What would I like to get away from? Complexity. Anxiety. A feeling I've had my whole life that at any given time there's something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-shriver/what-would-i-like-to-get-away-from-complexity-anxiety-a-feeling-i-ve/) [Lionel Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-shriver/) ## More by Henry L. Stimson > [I told him that my own opinion was that the time now and the method now to deal with Russia was to keep our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/i-told-him-that-my-own-opinion-was-that-the-time-now-and-the-method/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [When all the arguments have been forgotten, this central fact will remain. The two nations fought a single war, and their quarrels were the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/when-all-the-arguments-have-been-forgotten-this-central-fact-will/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [The bomb and the entrance of the Russians into the war will certainly have an effect on hastening the victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/the-bomb-and-the-entrance-of-the-russians-into-the-war-will-certainly/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [We had news this morning of another successful atomic bomb being dropped on Nagasaki. These two heavy blows have fallen in quick succession upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/we-had-news-this-morning-of-another-successful-atomic-bomb-being/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [Marriage should be a duet -- when one sings, the other claps. Joe Murray The only way to make a man trustworthy is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/marriage-should-be-a-duet-when-one-sings-the-other-claps-joe-murray/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [History is often not what actually happened but what is recorded as such.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/history-is-often-not-what-actually-happened-but-what-is-recorded-as/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [I told him there was one city that they must not bomb without my permission and that was Kyoto.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/i-told-him-there-was-one-city-that-they-must-not-bomb-without-my/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [We debated long over the situation for it is a very difficult question and all of us recognize its difficulty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/we-debated-long-over-the-situation-for-it-is-a-very-difficult/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [Hope is the mainspring of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/hope-is-the-mainspring-of-life/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [We face the delicate question of the diplomatic fencing to be done so as to be sure Japan is put into the wrong and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/we-face-the-delicate-question-of-the-diplomatic-fencing-to-be-done-so/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [Russia will occupy most of the good food lands of central Europe while we have the industrial portions. We must find some way of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/russia-will-occupy-most-of-the-good-food-lands-of-central-europe/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [The only deadly sin I know is cynicism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/the-only-deadly-sin-i-know-is-cynicism/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [Honor begets honor; trust begets trust; faith begets faith; and hope is the mainspring of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/honor-begets-honor-trust-begets-trust-faith-begets-faith-and-hope-is/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [But I think the bomb instead constitutes merely a first step in a new control by man over the forces of nature too revolutionary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/but-i-think-the-bomb-instead-constitutes-merely-a-first-step-in-a-new/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) > [The President so far has struck me as a man who is trying hard to keep his balance. He certainly has been very receptive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-l-stimson/the-president-so-far-has-struck-me-as-a-man-who-is-trying-hard-to/) [Henry L. Stimson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) [Explore all 32 Henry L. Stimson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-l-stimson/) ## More Catastrophe quotes > [Many individuals spend a considerable portion of their lifetimes in terror of one imagined catastrophe or another. The classic is that your immortal soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-neil-smith/many-individuals-spend-a-considerable-portion-of-their-lifetimes-in/) [L. Neil Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-neil-smith/) > [I was asked the other day if I would be interested in the Nobel Prize, but I think that for me it would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/i-was-asked-the-other-day-if-i-would-be-interested-in-the-nobel-prize/) [Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [“..the sense of a catastrophe perpetually invoked and avoided creates a rapture in whose depths horror and pleasure coincide...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-leiris/the-sense-of-a-catastrophe-perpetually-invoked-and-avoided-creates-a/) [Michel Leiris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-leiris/) > [To you, the people of Flint, I say, as I have before, I am sorry and I will fix it. No citizen of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-snyder/to-you-the-people-of-flint-i-say-as-i-have-before-i-am-sorry-and-i/) [Rick Snyder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-snyder/) > [Dark influences from the American past congregate among us still. If we are a democracy, what are we to make of the palpable elements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-bloom/dark-influences-from-the-american-past-congregate-among-us-still-if/) [Harold Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-bloom/) > [It's the hardest thing on earth to like yourself, and then when you do, it's a catastrophe. I mean, the people I know who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-nichols/it-s-the-hardest-thing-on-earth-to-like-yourself-and-then-when-you-do/) [Mike Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-nichols/) > [We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends. In the late 80s when I began to take climate change seriously, we referred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/we-are-upsetting-the-atmosphere-upon-which-all-life-depends-in-the/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [“War is catastrophe. It breaks families in irretrievable pieces. But those who are gone are not necessarily lost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/war-is-catastrophe-it-breaks-families-in-irretrievable-pieces-but/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [The biggest catastrophes that we've witnessed rarely come from information that is secret or hidden. It comes from information that is freely available and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-heffernan/the-biggest-catastrophes-that-we-ve-witnessed-rarely-come-from/) [Margaret Heffernan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-heffernan/) > [All the parties of capitalist society, all its moralists and all its sycophants will perish beneath the debris of the impending catastrophe. 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