--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nuclear weapons are so destructive and…" description: "\"Nuclear weapons are so destructive and ballistic missiles are so swift, that any substantially increased possibility of their use or any sudden change ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/john-f-kennedy-246_change_nuclear-weapons-are-so-destructive-and-b_378371.jpg" --- # Nuclear weapons are so destructive and ballistic missiles… ![“Nuclear weapons are so destructive and ballistic missiles are so swift, that any substantially increased possibility of their use or any sudden change in their deployment may well be regarded as a definite threat to peace.” quote by John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/john-f-kennedy-246_change_nuclear-weapons-are-so-destructive-and-b_378371.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/john-f-kennedy-246_change_nuclear-weapons-are-so-destructive-and-b_378371.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/john-f-kennedy-246_change_nuclear-weapons-are-so-destructive-and-b_378371.jpg) > “Nuclear weapons are so destructive and ballistic missiles are so swift, that any substantially increased possibility of their use or any sudden change in their deployment may well be regarded as a definite threat to peace.” [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kennedy warns that the rapid development and deployment of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles heighten the risk of their use, posing a clear threat to global peace. **In simple terms:** Nuclear arms increase the danger of war. Key Takeaway Treat nuclear weapons as a serious peace threat. Themes security war nuclear deterrence technology international relations Mood concerned urgent reflective Type policy strategic ethical When to use this quote - defense policy - diplomacy - non‑proliferation talks - military planning - public awareness Key Concepts deterrence theory strategic stability arms race risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What measures can reduce accidental launches? - How can international law adapt to new missile technologies? A Different Perspective Technological advances may outpace diplomatic controls. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Cuban missile crisis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cuban-missile-crisis/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Sudden change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sudden-change/) [Threat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threat/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [A convention on the comprehensive ban of nuclear weapons should be negotiated. Since biological and chemical weapons have been prohibited, there is no reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiang-zemin/a-convention-on-the-comprehensive-ban-of-nuclear-weapons-should-be/) [Jiang Zemin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiang-zemin/) > [Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/our-most-basic-common-link-is-that-we-all-inhabit-this-small-planet/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We will not prematurely or unnecessarily risk the costs of a worldwide nuclear war in which even the fruits of victory would be ashes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-not-prematurely-or-unnecessarily-risk-the-costs-of-a/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This Government, as promised, has maintained the closest surveillance of the Soviet Military buildup on the island of Cuba. Within the past week, unmistakable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-government-as-promised-has-maintained-the-closest-surveillance/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [If the economy of today were operating close to capacity levels with little unemployment, or if a sudden change in our military requirements should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/if-the-economy-of-today-were-operating-close-to-capacity-levels-with/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Clandestine attempts between late 1999 and 2002 to obtain from North Korea technology related to 1,300km range ballistic missiles, probably the No Dong 300km…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kay/clandestine-attempts-between-late-1999-and-2002-to-obtain-from-north/) [David Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kay/) > [What if free people could live secure in the knowledge that their security did not rest upon the threat of instant U.S. retaliation to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/what-if-free-people-could-live-secure-in-the-knowledge-that-their/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Terror, married to technology and accommodated by progress in travel, has turned evil individuals into traveling ballistic missiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/terror-married-to-technology-and-accommodated-by-progress-in-travel/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [We know that there are unaccounted-for Scud and other ballistic missiles in Iraq. And part of the problem is that, since 1998, there has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-know-that-there-are-unaccounted-for-scud-and-other-ballistic/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Iran is actively pursuing the development of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-berman/iran-is-actively-pursuing-the-development-of-weapons-of-mass/) [Howard Berman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-berman/) > [The language of North Korea is always bombastic. But what has really changed is the acceleration of their nuclear program, the likelihood that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leiter/the-language-of-north-korea-is-always-bombastic-but-what-has-really/) [Michael Leiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leiter/) > [“We had tens of thousands of ballistic missiles we could pop into low-earth orbit in the blink of an eye so we could obliterate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-adair/we-had-tens-of-thousands-of-ballistic-missiles-we-could-pop-into-low/) [Bobby Adair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-adair/) > [Terrorism is a significant threat to peace and security, prosperity and people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/terrorism-is-a-significant-threat-to-peace-and-security-prosperity/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [“There is a morally flawed understanding of ‘peace.’ In much of the world (again, thanks to the left), peace has been so narrowly defined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-a-morally-flawed-understanding-of-peace-in-much-of-the-world/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [ \[Saddam Hussein\] could have easily reconstituted a program. He was a threat to peace before we went in. He'd have been a threat to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/saddam-hussein-could-have-easily-reconstituted-a-program-he-was-a/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) ## More by John F. Kennedy > [“We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and success of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-shall-pay-any-price-bear-any-burden-meet-any-hardship-support-any/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We stand today on the edge of a new frontier - the frontier of the 1960's - a frontier of unknown opportunities and perils…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-stand-today-on-the-edge-of-a-new-frontier-the-frontier-of-the-1960/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We will neglect our cities to our peril, for in neglecting them we neglect the nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-will-neglect-our-cities-to-our-peril-for-in-neglecting-them-we/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We must recognize that every nation determines its policies in terms of its own interests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-must-recognize-that-every-nation-determines-its-policies-in-terms/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Someone always needs rescuing, yet there's only one person who ever seems to understand you. It's a lot like being Lassie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/someone-always-needs-rescuing-yet-there-s-only-one-person-who-ever/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Student loans have been helpful to many. But they offer neither incentive nor assistance to those students who, by reason of family or other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/student-loans-have-been-helpful-to-many-but-they-offer-neither/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Great crises produce great men, and great deeds of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/great-crises-produce-great-men-and-great-deeds-of-courage/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [There comes a point where you see no evidence that the carrot and diplomacy are working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/there-comes-a-point-where-you-see-no-evidence-that-the-carrot-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Suspicion on one side breeds suspicion on the other, and new weapons beget counter-weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/suspicion-on-one-side-breeds-suspicion-on-the-other-and-new-weapons/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [We have some of the most influential Members of Congress here today, and I do hope that we can get this appropriation for these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/we-have-some-of-the-most-influential-members-of-congress-here-today/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Disarmament without checks is but a shadow - and a community without law is but a shell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/disarmament-without-checks-is-but-a-shadow-and-a-community-without/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [This is one country. It has become one country because all of us and all the people who came here had an equal chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/this-is-one-country-it-has-become-one-country-because-all-of-us-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“The courage of life is often a less dramatic spectacle than the courage of a final moment; but it is no less a magnificent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/the-courage-of-life-is-often-a-less-dramatic-spectacle-than-the/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/washington-is-a-city-of-southern-efficiency-and-northern-charm/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [Peace does not rest in the charters and covenants alone. It lies in the hearts and minds of all people. So let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/peace-does-not-rest-in-the-charters-and-covenants-alone-it-lies-in/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) [Explore all 824 John F. Kennedy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nuclear weapons are so destructive and ballistic missiles are so swift, that any substantially increased possibility of their use or any sudden change in their deployment may well be regarded as a definite threat to peace.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John F. 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