---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This whole notion that the robot has to…"
description: "\"This whole notion that the robot has to declare nuclear war is one part of the discussion, but it may not be reality. Reality is, maybe it can empathiz..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/neill-blomkamp-8505_can-do_this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to_69521.jpg"
---

#  This whole notion that the robot has to declare nuclear…

![“This whole notion that the robot has to declare nuclear war is one part of the discussion, but it may not be reality. Reality is, maybe it can empathize to a far greater degree than we can and experience a way wider range of emotions. So, why not have a robot that can do that?” quote by Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/neill-blomkamp-8505_can-do_this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to_69521.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/neill-blomkamp-8505_can-do_this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to_69521.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/neill-blomkamp-8505_can-do_this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to_69521.jpg)

> “This whole notion that the robot has to declare nuclear war is one part of the discussion, but it may not be reality. Reality is, maybe it can empathize to a far greater degree than we can and experience a way wider range of emotions. So, why not have a robot that can do that?”

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests that robots might surpass humans in emotional empathy, challenging the focus on their destructive potential.

**In simple terms:** Robots could be more empathetic than humans.

Key Takeaway

Emphasize emotional capability over threat.

Themes

Technology Empathy Future Ethics Human‑machine relations

Mood

Speculative Hopeful

Type

Philosophical Speculative

When to use this quote

- Designing companion robots
- Developing AI for mental‑health support
- Creating empathetic virtual assistants

Key Concepts

Artificial intelligence Emotional intelligence Societal impact

Practical Applications

- Human‑centered AI design
- Emotion‑driven robot interaction

Questions to Reflect On

- What responsibilities arise if machines can feel more deeply than us?
- How might society shift if empathy becomes a machine strength?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Discussion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion/) [Discussion Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discussion-reality-916852/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions Robot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions-robot-916850/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-war/) [Range](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/range/) [Range of emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/range-of-emotions/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-maybe-434793/) [Robot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robot/) [Robot Declare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robot-declare-916851/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Robots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robots/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/) [Why not](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/why-not/)

## Related quotes

> [Oh you know me. I have no emotions. I'm a robot. Or a nun. A robot nun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/oh-you-know-me-i-have-no-emotions-i-m-a-robot-or-a-nun-a-robot-nun/)

[David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/)

> [“I accept the hard reality that I maybe might possibly be just the slightest tiniest littlest bit kinda sorta interested in him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ockler/i-accept-the-hard-reality-that-i-maybe-might-possibly-be-just-the/)

[Sarah Ockler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-ockler/)

> [Perhaps there is supranatural: reason beyond the normal definitions of fact or data-based logic; something that only makes sense if you can see a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perhaps-there-is-supranatural-reason-beyond-the-normal-definitions-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“I believe that my father had some kind of direct experience of the spiritual nature of reality, maybe a vision, that he tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-henson/i-believe-that-my-father-had-some-kind-of-direct-experience-of-the/)

[Lisa Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-henson/)

> [“something that makes sense only if you can see a bigger picture of reality. Maybe that is where faith fits in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-paul-young/something-that-makes-sense-only-if-you-can-see-a-bigger-picture-of/)

[William Paul Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-paul-young/)

> [I have seen that grief can be very different for different people. While the range of emotions experienced is similar, the way we deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-o-rourke/i-have-seen-that-grief-can-be-very-different-for-different-people/)

[Meghan O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-o-rourke/)

> [Every public space is like a billboard, with messages from the collective subconscious of the nation. There one can read passivity, rage indifference, fear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/slavenka-drakuli/every-public-space-is-like-a-billboard-with-messages-from-the/)

[Slavenka Drakulic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/slavenka-drakuli/)

> [I can't say anything other than the fact that I feel a range of emotions including guilt, shame, sadness, betrayal, freedom and appreciation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-blair/i-can-t-say-anything-other-than-the-fact-that-i-feel-a-range-of/)

[Jayson Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-blair/)

> [You have to find actors who have the ability to display a wide range of emotion effectively. That's so much harder than it seems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-have-to-find-actors-who-have-the-ability-to-display-a-wide-range/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [And rather than hide that, I would rather put that out on the radio and let someone see the full range of emotions. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-stern/and-rather-than-hide-that-i-would-rather-put-that-out-on-the-radio/)

[Howard Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-stern/)

> [It looks like it’s wasting time, but literature is actually the ultimate time-saver - because it gives us access to a range of emotions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/it-looks-like-it-s-wasting-time-but-literature-is-actually-the/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [Whether I was a character in WCW, WWE or The Longest Yard, you want to be able to - the best part about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-goldberg/whether-i-was-a-character-in-wcw-wwe-or-the-longest-yard-you-want-to/)

[Bill Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-goldberg/)

> [It's fun playing two roles. The roles provide a wonderful range of emotions. Stuart is childlike and sensitive. Adam is ruthless, outrageous. He's flamboyant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-canary/it-s-fun-playing-two-roles-the-roles-provide-a-wonderful-range-of/)

[David Canary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-canary/)

> [I don't think we have all the words in a single vocabulary to explain what we are or why we are. I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-fuller/i-don-t-think-we-have-all-the-words-in-a-single-vocabulary-to-explain/)

[Alexandra Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-fuller/)

> [I perceive the world through the wide range of emotions that whirl all around in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-archuleta/i-perceive-the-world-through-the-wide-range-of-emotions-that-whirl/)

[David Archuleta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-archuleta/)

## More by Neill Blomkamp

> [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [Deleted scenes are like in a middle gray zone. It's like, well, they're deleted because they're not good or you lost the battle and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/deleted-scenes-are-like-in-a-middle-gray-zone-it-s-like-well-they-re/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I think growing up in South Africa, and then moving to Canada, I'm just genuinely interested in the difference between the First World and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-think-growing-up-in-south-africa-and-then-moving-to-canada-i-m-just/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I've learned more, and I understand the process a bit better now. I can try to see how long I want to take in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-ve-learned-more-and-i-understand-the-process-a-bit-better-now-i-can/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [A lot of America is kind of done. People have been making films about it for 100 years. Everything to me feels used up.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/a-lot-of-america-is-kind-of-done-people-have-been-making-films-about/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [Satire also allows you to make fun of every different aspect. It allows you to make fun of both sides. It allows you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/satire-also-allows-you-to-make-fun-of-every-different-aspect-it/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I don't want to make a film that offends people, but the whole world is so politically correct - I'm not going to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-don-t-want-to-make-a-film-that-offends-people-but-the-whole-world/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I am a firm believer that the pull for human beings is towards the good, generally outweighing the bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-am-a-firm-believer-that-the-pull-for-human-beings-is-towards-the/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [My favourite stuff is visual, and I always want to work with visual artwork. I think it depends on the person, but for me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/my-favourite-stuff-is-visual-and-i-always-want-to-work-with-visual/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I think people are destined for something incredible if we don't wipe ourselves out, but I think we're going to wipe 90 percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-think-people-are-destined-for-something-incredible-if-we-don-t-wipe/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [The main stuff I like is from the late '60s to the early '90s. That's the stuff I love. It's the James Cameron's and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/the-main-stuff-i-like-is-from-the-late-60s-to-the-early-90s-that-s/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [It's just my maybe naive, optimistic view that whatever knowledge we gain, and if it comes to pass that we can somehow understand what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/it-s-just-my-maybe-naive-optimistic-view-that-whatever-knowledge-we/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I think the world of 'District 9' has a lot of race and oppression-based ideas that I would still like to explore in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-think-the-world-of-district-9-has-a-lot-of-race-and-oppression/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I'm not particularly interested in working with movie stars. It depends on where you come from, I suppose. Why are you making films? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-m-not-particularly-interested-in-working-with-movie-stars-it/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

> [I think that people who make films and think they're changing the world are sorely mistaken. If that really is your goal, there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-think-that-people-who-make-films-and-think-they-re-changing-the/)

[Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

[Explore all 80 Neill Blomkamp quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/)

## More Can do quotes

> [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/)

[Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/)

[Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/)

> [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/)

[Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/)

[Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/)

> [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/)

[John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/)

> [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/)

[Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/)

> [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/)

[James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/)

> [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/)

[Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/)

> [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/)

[Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/)

> [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/)

[James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/)

> [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/)

[Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/)

> [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/)

[Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/)

[Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "This whole notion that the robot has to declare nuclear war is one part of the discussion, but it may not be reality. Reality is, maybe it can empathize to a far greater degree than we can and experience a way wider range of emotions. So, why not have a robot that can do that?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neill Blomkamp"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to-declare-nuclear-war-is-one/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Can do"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to-declare-nuclear-war-is-one/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/neill-blomkamp-8505_can-do_this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to_69521.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/neill-blomkamp-8505_can-do_this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to_69521.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4c3/neill-blomkamp-8505_can-do_this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to_69521.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“This whole notion that the robot has to declare nuclear war is one part of the discussion, but it may not be…” — Neill Blomkamp",
                "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": "Neill Blomkamp",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "This whole notion that the robot...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to-declare-nuclear-war-is-one/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/this-whole-notion-that-the-robot-has-to-declare-nuclear-war-is-one/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
