--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole idea of a nuclear system is to…" description: "\"The whole idea of a nuclear system is to have a deterrent where we decide if we're going to use it.\" — Peter T. King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/peter-t-king-31082_decide_the-whole-idea-of-a-nuclear-system-is-to_2875210.jpg" --- # The whole idea of a nuclear system is to have a deterrent… ![“The whole idea of a nuclear system is to have a deterrent where we decide if we're going to use it.” quote by Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/peter-t-king-31082_decide_the-whole-idea-of-a-nuclear-system-is-to_2875210.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/peter-t-king-31082_decide_the-whole-idea-of-a-nuclear-system-is-to_2875210.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/449/peter-t-king-31082_decide_the-whole-idea-of-a-nuclear-system-is-to_2875210.jpg) > “The whole idea of a nuclear system is to have a deterrent where we decide if we're going to use it.” [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nuclear strategy relies on the threat of use as a preventive measure **In simple terms:** Deterrence is about threatening use to prevent conflict Key Takeaway Maintain credible deterrence to ensure peace Themes security deterrence policy Mood serious strategic Type political military When to use this quote - international relations - defense planning - crisis management Key Concepts Nuclear doctrine strategic stability political theory Questions to Reflect On - Is threat alone sufficient for security? - What alternatives exist to deterrence? A Different Perspective Deterrence may provoke arms races ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [System](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/system/) ## Related quotes > [I came into politics because of a real childhood concern about the Cold War. So to me the importance of the nuclear deterrent is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/i-came-into-politics-because-of-a-real-childhood-concern-about-the/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [Liberals have always opposed the concept of an independent nuclear deterrent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steel/liberals-have-always-opposed-the-concept-of-an-independent-nuclear/) [David Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steel/) > [It's Russia some people would like to get rid of. They are still afraid of our nuclear deterrent. We have our own foreign policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/it-s-russia-some-people-would-like-to-get-rid-of-they-are-still/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [I do want to be very clear: I see our nuclear deterrent as absolutely core insurance for our national security.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-leadsom/i-do-want-to-be-very-clear-i-see-our-nuclear-deterrent-as-absolutely/) [Andrea Leadsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-leadsom/) > [The thing that makes countries want to pursue some kind of nuclear deterrent is precisely the fact that they feel threatened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-thing-that-makes-countries-want-to-pursue-some-kind-of-nuclear/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The idea of all-out nuclear war is unsettling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-goodman/the-idea-of-all-out-nuclear-war-is-unsettling/) Walter Goodman > [In fact, as soon as it declared independence, Ukraine should have been quietly encouraged to fashion its own nuclear deterrent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mearsheimer/in-fact-as-soon-as-it-declared-independence-ukraine-should-have-been/) [John Mearsheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mearsheimer/) > [A nuclear program has arguably worked as a deterrent for North Korea and other states - would Moammar Gadhafi have been deposed and summarily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-engel/a-nuclear-program-has-arguably-worked-as-a-deterrent-for-north-korea/) [Richard Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-engel/) > [The Cold War philosophy of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), which prevented the former Soviet Union and the United States from using the nuclear weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lewis/the-cold-war-philosophy-of-mutual-assured-destruction-mad-which/) [Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lewis/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [You know what an effective deterrent to crime is? Jail! And do you know what kind of criminal penalty actually makes people think twice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/you-know-what-an-effective-deterrent-to-crime-is-jail-and-do-you-know/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [If somebody plans to carry out a series of murders... then this is obviously an evil and pre-meditated attack and in that case, there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-davis/if-somebody-plans-to-carry-out-a-series-of-murders-then-this-is/) [David Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-davis/) > [Today the greatest single deterrent to knowledge of Jesus is His familiarity. Because we think we know Him, we pass Him by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winifred-kirkland/today-the-greatest-single-deterrent-to-knowledge-of-jesus-is-his/) Winifred Kirkland > [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/) > [Fraud will always exist. Enforcement of anti-fraud laws is a useful deterrent, but in the end there's no substitute for investor vigilance. Government regulations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/fraud-will-always-exist-enforcement-of-anti-fraud-laws-is-a-useful/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) ## More by Peter T. King > [I have been to Guantanamo. It's a model prison. Is it ideal? No. But we live in a very un-ideal world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/i-have-been-to-guantanamo-it-s-a-model-prison-is-it-ideal-no-but-we/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [I mean, I really don't want the federal government to be determining whether or not a person who feels certain ways about the environment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/i-mean-i-really-don-t-want-the-federal-government-to-be-determining/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [And I think people who sort of glibly say, 'Well, you know, they're not going to handle security, UAE is a great ally,' four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/and-i-think-people-who-sort-of-glibly-say-well-you-know-they-re-not/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [In the real world in which we live, it's a dangerous world. And you know the old saying is that we have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/in-the-real-world-in-which-we-live-it-s-a-dangerous-world-and-you/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [Being out in the street is not an expectation of privacy. Anyone can look at you, can see you, can watch what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/being-out-in-the-street-is-not-an-expectation-of-privacy-anyone-can/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [The department was set up primarily to protect us from another terrorist attack from Islamic terrorists, and yet they talk about everything but that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/the-department-was-set-up-primarily-to-protect-us-from-another/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [I think there has been a lack of full cooperation from too many people in the Muslim community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/i-think-there-has-been-a-lack-of-full-cooperation-from-too-many/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [Well, first, the situation in Afghanistan is much better than it was. But there is no comparison between Afghanistan and Iraq. Iraq has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/well-first-the-situation-in-afghanistan-is-much-better-than-it-was/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [I'm saying this as a Republican: In the White House, the effort that goes in and wherever these decisions are made, as to limit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/i-m-saying-this-as-a-republican-in-the-white-house-the-effort-that/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [I do think we need more cameras. We have to stay ahead of the terrorists, and I do know in New York, the Lower…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/i-do-think-we-need-more-cameras-we-have-to-stay-ahead-of-the/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [I think I'm one of the people who brought about peace in Ireland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/i-think-i-m-one-of-the-people-who-brought-about-peace-in-ireland/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [Now, we don't get that many specific threats against sporting events, per se. But we know from listening to the chatter how terrorists want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/now-we-don-t-get-that-many-specific-threats-against-sporting-events/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [The U.N. is capable of endless process and mindless psychobabble, but as far as getting the job done on the ground, I just don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/the-u-n-is-capable-of-endless-process-and-mindless-psychobabble-but/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [When things did go wrong for the IRA, when civilians were killed, I tried to put it in context, not defend it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/when-things-did-go-wrong-for-the-ira-when-civilians-were-killed-i/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) > [I felt that the IRA, in the context of Irish history, and Sinn Fein were a legitimate force that had to be recognized, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-t-king/i-felt-that-the-ira-in-the-context-of-irish-history-and-sinn-fein/) [Peter T. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) [Explore all 16 Peter T. King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-t-king/) ## More Decide quotes > [“Exactly. So, what can't you take? Decide which of the two options is harder, and do the other. That way, no matter how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine-angelini/exactly-so-what-can-t-you-take-decide-which-of-the-two-options-is/) [Josephine Angelini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine-angelini/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [We do not know which irresponsible Israeli prime minister will take office and decide to use nuclear weapons in the struggle against neighboring Arab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordechai-vanunu/we-do-not-know-which-irresponsible-israeli-prime-minister-will-take/) [Mordechai Vanunu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordechai-vanunu/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Nothing is more private than a woman's body; it is her physical, emotional, and moral citadel. She cannot be free at all if she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-b-smedes/nothing-is-more-private-than-a-woman-s-body-it-is-her-physical/) [Lewis B. Smedes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-b-smedes/) > [LOOK before you pick,DECIDE WELL before you choose,because these two things are very important in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/look-before-you-pick-decide-well-before-you-choose-because-these-two/) [Oluwatayo Oluwatoyosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oluwatayo-oluwatoyosi/) > [Decisions decide destiny, there is no action without decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/decisions-decide-destiny-there-is-no-action-without-decision/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Do you keep pace with those around you, or do you decide yourself just how you will live your life? The truth is...only you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/do-you-keep-pace-with-those-around-you-or-do-you-decide-yourself-just/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [All the people ought to decide, but now most states are tossed on the scrap heap and ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-anderson/all-the-people-ought-to-decide-but-now-most-states-are-tossed-on-the/) [John Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-anderson/) > [Fear is going to be a player in your life, but you get to decide how much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/fear-is-going-to-be-a-player-in-your-life-but-you-get-to-decide-how/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [We cant choose our lives, but we can decide what to do with the joys or griefs were given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-cant-choose-our-lives-but-we-can-decide-what-to-do-with-the-joys/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [It’s as easy as we choose to make it,” he murmured, pressing his forehead to mine. “At least, this decision is. Nothing’s truly easy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-s-as-easy-as-we-choose-to-make-it-he-murmured-pressing-his/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [What you believe in, is the life you decide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keshia-chante/what-you-believe-in-is-the-life-you-decide/) [Keshia Chante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keshia-chante/) > [Heart is decide u want in ur life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raajni/heart-is-decide-u-want-in-ur-life/) Raajni > [I think hopefully we've got enough brain cells left to decide if our music is really worth something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-champion/i-think-hopefully-we-ve-got-enough-brain-cells-left-to-decide-if-our/) [Will Champion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-champion/) Browse all 1,644 Decide quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The whole idea of a nuclear system is to have a deterrent where we decide if we're going to use it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Peter T. 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