--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes you need a B-2 bomber and…" description: "\"Sometimes you need a B-2 bomber and sometimes you need your mother.\" — P. J. O'Rourke" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/p-j-o-rourke-184_bomber_sometimes-you-need-a-b-2-bomber-and-some_888637.png" --- # Sometimes you need a B-2 bomber and sometimes you need… ![“Sometimes you need a B-2 bomber and sometimes you need your mother.” quote by P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/p-j-o-rourke-184_bomber_sometimes-you-need-a-b-2-bomber-and-some_888637.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/p-j-o-rourke-184_bomber_sometimes-you-need-a-b-2-bomber-and-some_888637.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/p-j-o-rourke-184_bomber_sometimes-you-need-a-b-2-bomber-and-some_888637.png) > “Sometimes you need a B-2 bomber and sometimes you need your mother.” [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Different problems require vastly different solutions, from massive force to simple care. **In simple terms:** Big tools sometimes needed, sometimes simple love. Key Takeaway Match the solution to the problem. Themes strategy humor perspective Mood witty reflective Type philosophical humorous When to use this quote - conflict resolution - family advice - emergency response Key Concepts military power family support problem solving Questions to Reflect On - When should you choose force over empathy? - How do you balance power and compassion? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on force can ignore nuanced needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bomber/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [You take one bomber and deploy him in Baghdad, and another is manufactured in Riyadh the next day. It's exactly like when you take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-friedman/you-take-one-bomber-and-deploy-him-in-baghdad-and-another-is/) [Thomas Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-friedman/) > [I am so sick of reading about another car bomb, another suicide bomber, another 10, 20, 30, 70, 100 people dead in a day, both Americans and Iraqis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanne-cash/i-am-so-sick-of-reading-about-another-car-bomb-another-suicide-bomber/) [Rosanne Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanne-cash/) > [I mean you think about the guy, the Nigerian guy, who was going to blow up the plane. He was wearing a pair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-mean-you-think-about-the-guy-the-nigerian-guy-who-was-going-to-blow/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [The stealth bomber is supposed to be a big deal. It flies in undetected, bombs, then flies away. Hell, I've been doing that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-hope/the-stealth-bomber-is-supposed-to-be-a-big-deal-it-flies-in/) [Bob Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-hope/) > [Let's hope the Boston Marathon bomber is a white American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sirota/let-s-hope-the-boston-marathon-bomber-is-a-white-american/) [David Sirota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sirota/) > [Each proposed B-2 stealth bomber costs three times more than it would if every part of the plane were made from solid gold. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-blagojevich/each-proposed-b-2-stealth-bomber-costs-three-times-more-than-it-would/) [Rod Blagojevich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-blagojevich/) > [The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities ... We pay for a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-cost-of-one-modern-heavy-bomber-is-this-a-modern-brick-school-in/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [There is no moral difference between a Stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. They both kill innocent people for political reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-benn/there-is-no-moral-difference-between-a-stealth-bomber-and-a-suicide/) [Tony Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-benn/) > [I was a bombadier in WW 2. When you are up 30,000 feet you do not hear the screams or smell the blood or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-was-a-bombadier-in-ww-2-when-you-are-up-30-000-feet-you-do-not-hear/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) > [The suicide bomber's imagination leads him to believe in a brilliant act of heroism, when in fact he is simply blowing himself up pointlessly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-suicide-bomber-s-imagination-leads-him-to-believe-in-a-brilliant/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [On our watch, the conversation with a would-be suicide bomber will not begin with the words, 'You have the right to remain silent.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/on-our-watch-the-conversation-with-a-would-be-suicide-bomber-will-not/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I see the bomber pictures as an anti-war statement... which they aren't - at all. Pictures like that don't do anything to combat war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/i-see-the-bomber-pictures-as-an-anti-war-statement-which-they-aren-t/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [I can't help thinking the failed New York bomber would've done far more damage if he'd simply driven throught Times Square in a Toyota.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/i-can-t-help-thinking-the-failed-new-york-bomber-would-ve-done-far/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [“Different prayers and formulas are good and beautiful, but the essential thing . . . is the simple relationship of a child to its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-maximilian-kolbe/different-prayers-and-formulas-are-good-and-beautiful-but-the/) [St. Maximilian Kolbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-maximilian-kolbe/) > [“Bring mademoiselle a chair. She looks weary." "No!" she said. "I have no interest in conversing with you, Monsieur le Comte. I simply need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-stuart/bring-mademoiselle-a-chair-she-looks-weary-no-she-said-i-have-no/) [Anne Stuart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-stuart/) ## More by P. J. O'Rourke > [I'm fascinated by political enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-m-fascinated-by-political-enthusiasm/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In comparative terms, there's no poverty in America by a long shot. Heritage Foundation political scientist Robert Rector has worked up figures showing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-comparative-terms-there-s-no-poverty-in-america-by-a-long-shot/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [The Democrats said, "We don't know what's wrong with America, but we can fix it." The Republicans said, "There's nothing wrong with America, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/the-democrats-said-we-don-t-know-what-s-wrong-with-america-but-we-can/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [So-called Western Civilization, as practised in half of Europe, some of Asia and a few parts of North America, is better than anything else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/so-called-western-civilization-as-practised-in-half-of-europe-some-of/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [My whole family can talk. They are all car salesmen. They are all funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/my-whole-family-can-talk-they-are-all-car-salesmen-they-are-all-funny/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [It was Ronald Reagan who used to say that the 10 most frightening words in the English language are, "I'm from the federal government,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/it-was-ronald-reagan-who-used-to-say-that-the-10-most-frightening/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Pete Seeger is a modest, unassuming, cheerful, and kind-natured man. He's a good folk singer, if you can stand folk singing. And he's such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/pete-seeger-is-a-modest-unassuming-cheerful-and-kind-natured-man-he-s/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I like to think of my behavior in the sixties as a 'learning experience.' Then again, I like to think of anything stupid I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-like-to-think-of-my-behavior-in-the-sixties-as-a-learning/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'll be 56 this year, I've got two kids, and I think it's probably time to go back to writing one-glove jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/i-ll-be-56-this-year-i-ve-got-two-kids-and-i-think-it-s-probably-time/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Russians not only vehemently despise blacks, they believe Africa begins at the Ukraine border.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/russians-not-only-vehemently-despise-blacks-they-believe-africa/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [Now, do I think the baby boomers tend to be self-absorbed? I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/now-do-i-think-the-baby-boomers-tend-to-be-self-absorbed-i-do/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) [Explore all 983 P. J. O'Rourke quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) ## More Bomber quotes > [“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/every-gun-that-is-made-every-warship-launched-every-rocket-fired/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > ['Bomber' was the first song I wrote about war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemmy/bomber-was-the-first-song-i-wrote-about-war/) [Lemmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemmy/) > [Bomber jackets, for me, are the new blazers. They're something I can wear with suit pants or slacks - or I can go really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/bomber-jackets-for-me-are-the-new-blazers-they-re-something-i-can/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [The mishandling of the would-be airplane bomber Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab's visa is only the latest piece of evidence that the granting of visas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/the-mishandling-of-the-would-be-airplane-bomber-umar-farouk-abdul/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [The bomber will always get through. The only defense is in offense, which means that you have to kill more women and children more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-baldwin/the-bomber-will-always-get-through-the-only-defense-is-in-offense/) [Stanley Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-baldwin/) > [Why we cannot build a system like El Al to be proactive. Why do we have only to react? The shoe bomber - reaction?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-yeffet/why-we-cannot-build-a-system-like-el-al-to-be-proactive-why-do-we/) [Isaac Yeffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-yeffet/) > [I can't help thinking the failed New York bomber would've done far more damage if he'd simply driven throught Times Square in a Toyota.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-boyle/i-can-t-help-thinking-the-failed-new-york-bomber-would-ve-done-far/) [Frankie Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-boyle/) > [People probably growing up said U.S. Open wouldn't suit me, because I'm a long hitter, I'm a bomber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-woodland/people-probably-growing-up-said-u-s-open-wouldn-t-suit-me-because-i-m/) [Gary Woodland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-woodland/) > [I see the bomber pictures as an anti-war statement... which they aren't - at all. Pictures like that don't do anything to combat war.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/i-see-the-bomber-pictures-as-an-anti-war-statement-which-they-aren-t/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [On our watch, the conversation with a would-be suicide bomber will not begin with the words, 'You have the right to remain silent.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/on-our-watch-the-conversation-with-a-would-be-suicide-bomber-will-not/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [The suicide bomber's imagination leads him to believe in a brilliant act of heroism, when in fact he is simply blowing himself up pointlessly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/the-suicide-bomber-s-imagination-leads-him-to-believe-in-a-brilliant/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The episode of the 'shoe bomber,' Richard Reid, has suddenly meant more feet being bared at airports than at the average Hindu temple. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shashi-tharoor/the-episode-of-the-shoe-bomber-richard-reid-has-suddenly-meant-more/) [Shashi Tharoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shashi-tharoor/) > [“The suicide bomber is no more than a mosquito. The occupation is the swamp. - Rami Elhanan, an”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rami-elhanan-israeli-citizen/the-suicide-bomber-is-no-more-than-a-mosquito-the-occupation-is-the/) Rami Elhanan Israeli citizen > [Once you have speech, you don't have to wait for natural selection! If you want more strength, you build a stealth bomber; if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-wolfe/once-you-have-speech-you-don-t-have-to-wait-for-natural-selection-if/) [Tom Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-wolfe/) > [I was a bombadier in WW 2. When you are up 30,000 feet you do not hear the screams or smell the blood or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-zinn/i-was-a-bombadier-in-ww-2-when-you-are-up-30-000-feet-you-do-not-hear/) [Howard Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-zinn/) [Browse all 38 Bomber quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bomber/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Sometimes you need a B-2 bomber and sometimes you need your mother.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "P. J. 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