--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a military man who has given half a…" description: "\"As a military man who has given half a century of active service I say in all sincerity that the nuclear arms race has no military purpose. Wars cannot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/lord-mountbatten-19834_absolutes_as-a-military-man-who-has-given-half-a-c_1406376.jpg" --- # As a military man who has given half a century of active… ![“As a military man who has given half a century of active service I say in all sincerity that the nuclear arms race has no military purpose. Wars cannot be fought with nuclear weapons. Their existence only adds to our perils because of the illusions they have generated. There are powerful voices…” quote by Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/lord-mountbatten-19834_absolutes_as-a-military-man-who-has-given-half-a-c_1406376.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/lord-mountbatten-19834_absolutes_as-a-military-man-who-has-given-half-a-c_1406376.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/703/lord-mountbatten-19834_absolutes_as-a-military-man-who-has-given-half-a-c_1406376.jpg) > “As a military man who has given half a century of active service I say in all sincerity that the nuclear arms race has no military purpose. Wars cannot be fought with nuclear weapons. Their existence only adds to our perils because of the illusions they have generated. There are powerful voices around the world who still give credence to the old Roman precept - if you desire peace, prepare for war. This is absolute nuclear nonsense.” [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nuclear weapons are strategically useless in war, increase global danger, and perpetuate a false peace‑through‑strength doctrine. **In simple terms:** Nuclear arms are dangerous and ineffective. Key Takeaway Advocate for disarmament. Themes war peace nuclear weapons Mood urgent serious Type political philosophical When to use this quote - policy debates - defense planning - public education Key Concepts deterrence theory military strategy global security Questions to Reflect On - What alternatives replace nuclear deterrence? - How can societies shift from fear‑based security? A Different Perspective Disarmament faces political resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) [Arms race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms-race/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Half a century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/half-a-century/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Military](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military/) [Military man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-man/) [Nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-arms/) [Nuclear arms race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-arms-race/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Peril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peril/) [Prepare For War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prepare-for-war/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Sincerity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sincerity/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [The nuclear arms race has no military purpose. Wars cannot be fought with nuclear weapons. Their existence only adds to our perils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/the-nuclear-arms-race-has-no-military-purpose-wars-cannot-be-fought/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [The purpose of all wars, is peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-purpose-of-all-wars-is-peace/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [If World War III is fought with nuclear weapons, World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arashi/if-world-war-iii-is-fought-with-nuclear-weapons-world-war-iv-will-be/) [Arashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arashi/) > [The massive quantities of radiation that would be released in a war fought with nuclear weapons might, over time, cause such great changes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-caldicott/the-massive-quantities-of-radiation-that-would-be-released-in-a-war/) [Helen Caldicott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-caldicott/) > [The emotional security and political stability in this country entitle us to be a nuclear power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-mason/the-emotional-security-and-political-stability-in-this-country/) Anthony Mason > [The nuclear arms race is like two people sitting in a pool of gasoline spending all their time making matches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-denver/the-nuclear-arms-race-is-like-two-people-sitting-in-a-pool-of/) [John Denver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-denver/) > [If Iran becomes a nuclear weapon state it is the end of non-proliferation as we know it. If Iran gets a nuclear weapon you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-fox/if-iran-becomes-a-nuclear-weapon-state-it-is-the-end-of-non/) [Liam Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-fox/) > [We don't need another nuclear arms race to proceed a pace and then to encourage other countries to become very, to develop these kinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/we-don-t-need-another-nuclear-arms-race-to-proceed-a-pace-and-then-to/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [The nuclear arms race is like two sworn enemies standing waist deep in gasoline, one with three matches, the other with five.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-nuclear-arms-race-is-like-two-sworn-enemies-standing-waist-deep/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [ Without a deal \[with Iran\], the international sanctions regime will unravel with little ability to reimpose them. With this deal, we have the possibility… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/without-a-deal-with-iran-the-international-sanctions-regime-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [...convince all nuclear powers, including those which have been more reluctant up to now, of the necessity to respect the "vital interests" of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfonso-garcia-robles/convince-all-nuclear-powers-including-those-which-have-been-more/) Alfonso Garcia Robles > [I agree that we need a working relationship with Russia to deescalate a nuclear arms race, to resolve the crisis in Syria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-vanden-heuvel/i-agree-that-we-need-a-working-relationship-with-russia-to-deescalate/) [Katrina vanden Heuvel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-vanden-heuvel/) > [We will stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power. We will stop that nuclear arms race that could happen in the Middle East. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-jindal/we-will-stop-iran-from-becoming-a-nuclear-power-we-will-stop-that/) [Bobby Jindal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-jindal/) > [Our tolerance of the intolerable found a low threshold as early as the late 1950s with the grotesque excesses of McCarthyism, which destroyed so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/our-tolerance-of-the-intolerable-found-a-low-threshold-as-early-as/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [But scientists on both sides of the iron curtain played a very significant role in maintaining the momentum of the nuclear arms race throughout…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rotblat/but-scientists-on-both-sides-of-the-iron-curtain-played-a-very/) [Joseph Rotblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rotblat/) ## More by Lord Mountbatten > [Marriage to a very rich woman posed problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/marriage-to-a-very-rich-woman-posed-problems/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [No one person invented Mulberry. The knowledge that we had to have this floating harbor slowly grew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/no-one-person-invented-mulberry-the-knowledge-that-we-had-to-have/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [Prince Charles is an absolute Mountbatten. The real intelligence in the royal family comes through my parents to Prince Philip and the children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/prince-charles-is-an-absolute-mountbatten-the-real-intelligence-in/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [My father was afraid of his father, I was afraid of my father, and I don't see why my children shouldn't be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/my-father-was-afraid-of-his-father-i-was-afraid-of-my-father-and-i/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [The primary factor in a successful attack is speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/the-primary-factor-in-a-successful-attack-is-speed/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [The team should have implicit confidence in the captain's decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/the-team-should-have-implicit-confidence-in-the-captain-s-decisions/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [It is a curious thing, but I have been right in everything I have done and said in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/it-is-a-curious-thing-but-i-have-been-right-in-everything-i-have-done/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [It never entered my father's mind nor my mind ever to do a job othe than at one's best ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/it-never-entered-my-father-s-mind-nor-my-mind-ever-to-do-a-job-othe/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [Actually, I vote Labour, but my butler's a Tory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/actually-i-vote-labour-but-my-butler-s-a-tory/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [The nuclear arms race has no military purpose. Wars cannot be fought with nuclear weapons. Their existence only adds to our perils.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/the-nuclear-arms-race-has-no-military-purpose-wars-cannot-be-fought/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [Men o' war were to be a part of the fabric of my life for the next half-century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/men-o-war-were-to-be-a-part-of-the-fabric-of-my-life-for-the-next/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [If you've got it, wear it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/if-you-ve-got-it-wear-it/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [This is the war I fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/this-is-the-war-i-fear/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [I was so keen to get back to sea. I was rattled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/i-was-so-keen-to-get-back-to-sea-i-was-rattled/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) > [My mother said, Don't worry abot what people think now. Think about whether your children and grandchildren will think you've done well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-mountbatten/my-mother-said-don-t-worry-abot-what-people-think-now-think-about/) [Lord Mountbatten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) [Explore all 32 Lord Mountbatten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-mountbatten/) ## More Absolutes quotes > [At the centre of the human heart is the longing for an absolute good, a longing which is always there and is never appeased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/at-the-centre-of-the-human-heart-is-the-longing-for-an-absolute-good/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [There is no perfect justice, just as there is no absolute in ethics. But there is perfect injustice, and we know it when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/there-is-no-perfect-justice-just-as-there-is-no-absolute-in-ethics/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Conservative political opinion in America cleaves to the tradition of the judge as passive interpreter, believing that his absolute loyalty to authoritative law is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/learned-hand/conservative-political-opinion-in-america-cleaves-to-the-tradition-of/) [Learned Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/learned-hand/) > [So many times we come to Jesus in worship and ask Him for things that He already IS and has already done... What a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christy-nockels/so-many-times-we-come-to-jesus-in-worship-and-ask-him-for-things-that/) Christy Nockels > [Those are decisions only the Lord will make. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his son for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/those-are-decisions-only-the-lord-will-make-i-believe-the-love-of-god/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [“The Gods know what it is to be eternal, and they love to toy with mortals who use absolutes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/the-gods-know-what-it-is-to-be-eternal-and-they-love-to-toy-with/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [Anarchy is the stepping stone to absolute power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/anarchy-is-the-stepping-stone-to-absolute-power/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [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 only "definitive truth" for Buddhism is the absolute negation of any one truth as the Definitive Truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-only-definitive-truth-for-buddhism-is-the-absolute-negation-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [The nature of the Absolute is neither perceptible nor imperceptible; and with phenomena it is just the same. But to one who has discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huangbo-xiyun/the-nature-of-the-absolute-is-neither-perceptible-nor-imperceptible/) [Huangbo Xiyun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huangbo-xiyun/) > [Joining a company is an act that calls for absolute loyalty in big matters and little ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-watson/joining-a-company-is-an-act-that-calls-for-absolute-loyalty-in-big/) [Thomas Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-watson/) > [In fine, a life of good or evil, the hope of Heaven or the despair of Hell, Faustus stands as a reminder that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-fine-a-life-of-good-or-evil-the-hope-of-heaven-or-the-despair-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,016 Absolutes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a military man who has given half a century of active service I say in all sincerity that the nuclear arms race has no military purpose. 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