--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even with the best intentions, you can…" description: "\"Even with the best intentions, you can have a nuclear war, a nuclear holocaust, through miscalculation, through accidents.\" — Mohamed ElBaradei" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_accidents_even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-ha_2225206.png" --- # Even with the best intentions, you can have a nuclear war… ![“Even with the best intentions, you can have a nuclear war, a nuclear holocaust, through miscalculation, through accidents.” quote by Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_accidents_even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-ha_2225206.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_accidents_even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-ha_2225206.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_accidents_even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-ha_2225206.png) > “Even with the best intentions, you can have a nuclear war, a nuclear holocaust, through miscalculation, through accidents.” [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even well‑intentioned actions can lead to catastrophic nuclear outcomes due to errors or accidents. **In simple terms:** Good intentions can still cause disaster. Key Takeaway Prioritize safety protocols. Themes security risk nuclear policy Mood cautious serious Type analytical warning When to use this quote - policy making - military planning - international diplomacy Key Concepts human error accident prevention Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance safety and progress? - What safeguards are most effective? A Different Perspective Strict protocols may limit flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Best intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-intentions/) [Holocaust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holocaust/) [Intentions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intentions/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-war/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Eisenhower was certain any war with the Soviet Union would become a nuclear war, and any nuclear war would escalate into a full, all-out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-m-graff/eisenhower-was-certain-any-war-with-the-soviet-union-would-become-a/) [Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/) > [The nightmare of the Cold War was nuclear weapons in the hands of an irrational person. I don't want to live through that nightmare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/the-nightmare-of-the-cold-war-was-nuclear-weapons-in-the-hands-of-an/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [If this is a war, my side has the nuclear bomb. We have K Street. We have Wall Street. Debbie doesn't have anybody. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-buffett/if-this-is-a-war-my-side-has-the-nuclear-bomb-we-have-k-street-we/) [Warren Buffett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-buffett/) > [Even a fool could see that one didn't need a war, nuclear or otherwise, to destroy oneself; the rising cost of weaponry could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-lem/even-a-fool-could-see-that-one-didn-t-need-a-war-nuclear-or-otherwise/) [Stanislaw Lem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-lem/) > [In view of the fact that in any future world war nuclear weapons will certainly be employed, and that such weapons threaten the continued…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/in-view-of-the-fact-that-in-any-future-world-war-nuclear-weapons-will/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [You can have the best intentions in the world but if you do nothing, you are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-taylor/you-can-have-the-best-intentions-in-the-world-but-if-you-do-nothing/) [Corey Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-taylor/) > [I can only think seriously of trying to live up to an ideal, to improve myself, if I am split in two pieces. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/i-can-only-think-seriously-of-trying-to-live-up-to-an-ideal-to/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [Even if you have the best intentions, there may sometimes be a price or a cost or a pushback against what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-russo/even-if-you-have-the-best-intentions-there-may-sometimes-be-a-price/) [Anthony Russo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-russo/) > [Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-belfort/without-action-the-best-intentions-in-the-world-are-nothing-more-than/) [Jordan Belfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-belfort/) > [Please tell me you will remember, no matter how much I do wrong that I had the best of intentions all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-tritt/please-tell-me-you-will-remember-no-matter-how-much-i-do-wrong-that-i/) [Travis Tritt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-tritt/) > [The intention to live as long as possible isn't one of the mind's best intentions, because quantity isn't the same as quality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-intention-to-live-as-long-as-possible-isn-t-one-of-the-mind-s/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“Some of our best intentions fail because we don’t have a system of execution.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/some-of-our-best-intentions-fail-because-we-don-t-have-a-system-of/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [“Sometimes our best intentions are not enough, but always remain genuine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-michelle-carithers/sometimes-our-best-intentions-are-not-enough-but-always-remain-genuine/) M (Michelle) Carithers > [We are not our best intentions. We are what we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-dickinson/we-are-not-our-best-intentions-we-are-what-we-do/) [Amy Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-dickinson/) > [“Our best intentions are the most impactful when they are formed by the actual needs and desires of our community.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-docusen/our-best-intentions-are-the-most-impactful-when-they-are-formed-by/) David Docusen ## More by Mohamed ElBaradei > [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Its up to any government to decide how to react to the denial of basic human rights anywhere in the world, including Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/its-up-to-any-government-to-decide-how-to-react-to-the-denial-of/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [If The World Does Not Change Course, We Risk Self-Destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-the-world-does-not-change-course-we-risk-self-destruction/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [If Egypt were going to change, it is going to change through the young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-egypt-were-going-to-change-it-is-going-to-change-through-the-young/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Egypt is indeed deeply divided. Without reconciliation we have no future. The Muslim Brotherhood is an important part of our society. I very much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/egypt-is-indeed-deeply-divided-without-reconciliation-we-have-no/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [You either have a civil society or you dont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/you-either-have-a-civil-society-or-you-dont/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [I lose my temper at home. I try to control my temper at work. Sometimes, if you are under a lot of pressure, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/i-lose-my-temper-at-home-i-try-to-control-my-temper-at-work-sometimes/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Psychology is as important as substance. If you treat people with respect, they will go out of their way to accommodate you. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/psychology-is-as-important-as-substance-if-you-treat-people-with/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [In April I founded the Constitution Party. With the Social Democrats and all liberal powers we will combine against the Islamists. We still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/in-april-i-founded-the-constitution-party-with-the-social-democrats/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [As long as some of us choose to rely on nuclear weapons, we continue to risk that these same weapons will become increasingly attractive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/as-long-as-some-of-us-choose-to-rely-on-nuclear-weapons-we-continue/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [The gravest threat faced by the world is of an extremist group getting hold of nuclear weapons or materials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/the-gravest-threat-faced-by-the-world-is-of-an-extremist-group/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [People talk about smart sanctions and crippling sanctions. I've never seen smart sanctions, and crippling sanctions cripple everyone, including innocent civilians, and make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/people-talk-about-smart-sanctions-and-crippling-sanctions-i-ve-never/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [The Muslim Brotherhood is a religiously conservative group. They are a minority in Egypt. They are not a majority of the Egyptian people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/the-muslim-brotherhood-is-a-religiously-conservative-group-they-are-a/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [I think one country with nuclear weapons is one country too many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/i-think-one-country-with-nuclear-weapons-is-one-country-too-many/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) > [Youre shooting yourself in the foot if you isolate or disempower the moderates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/youre-shooting-yourself-in-the-foot-if-you-isolate-or-disempower-the/) [Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) [Explore all 137 Mohamed ElBaradei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [No, I think most astronauts recognize that the space shuttle program is very high-risk, and are prepared for accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-ride/no-i-think-most-astronauts-recognize-that-the-space-shuttle-program/) [Sally Ride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-ride/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [The only way to have a funeral is to invite everyone who ever knew the person and just wait for the accident to happen-somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-roth/the-only-way-to-have-a-funeral-is-to-invite-everyone-who-ever-knew/) [Philip Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-roth/) > [Good films are not made by accident, nor is good photography. You can have good things happen, on occasion, by accident that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-willis/good-films-are-not-made-by-accident-nor-is-good-photography-you-can/) [Gordon Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-willis/) > [By education I am an Englishman, by views an internationalist, by culture a Muslim and a Hindu only by accident of birth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jawaharlal-nehru/by-education-i-am-an-englishman-by-views-an-internationalist-by/) [Jawaharlal Nehru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jawaharlal-nehru/) > [I made out with a homeless guy by accident. I had no idea -- he was really tan, he had no shoes on. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even with the best intentions, you can have a nuclear war, a nuclear holocaust, through miscalculation, through accidents.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mohamed ElBaradei" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-have-a-nuclear-war-a-nuclear/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accidents" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-have-a-nuclear-war-a-nuclear/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_accidents_even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-ha_2225206.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_accidents_even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-ha_2225206.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68b/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_accidents_even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-ha_2225206.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Even with the best intentions, you can have a nuclear war, a nuclear holocaust, through miscalculation…” — Mohamed ElBaradei", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mohamed ElBaradei", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Even with the best intentions, you...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-have-a-nuclear-war-a-nuclear/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/even-with-the-best-intentions-you-can-have-a-nuclear-war-a-nuclear/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```