--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sure, you can say nuclear power is…" description: "\"Sure, you can say nuclear power is somewhat less carbon-intensive than burning fossil fuels for energy; beating your children to death with a club will..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/rebecca-solnit-569_alternatives_sure-you-can-say-nuclear-power-is-somewh_2355364.jpg" --- # Sure, you can say nuclear power is somewhat less… ![“Sure, you can say nuclear power is somewhat less carbon-intensive than burning fossil fuels for energy; beating your children to death with a club will prevent them from getting hit by a car. Ravaging the Earth by one irreparable means is not a sensible way to prevent it from being destroyed by…” quote by Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/rebecca-solnit-569_alternatives_sure-you-can-say-nuclear-power-is-somewh_2355364.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/rebecca-solnit-569_alternatives_sure-you-can-say-nuclear-power-is-somewh_2355364.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e2/rebecca-solnit-569_alternatives_sure-you-can-say-nuclear-power-is-somewh_2355364.jpg) > “Sure, you can say nuclear power is somewhat less carbon-intensive than burning fossil fuels for energy; beating your children to death with a club will prevent them from getting hit by a car. Ravaging the Earth by one irreparable means is not a sensible way to prevent it from being destroyed by another. There are alternatives. We should choose them and use them.” [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) ## 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 juxtaposes a minor environmental benefit of nuclear power with an extreme moral absurdity, arguing that small harms cannot justify larger, irreversible damage; it urges seeking less harmful alternatives. **In simple terms:** Small harms don’t justify huge, irreversible damage. Key Takeaway Seek and adopt less harmful solutions. Themes environment ethics technology alternatives consequences Mood concerned thoughtful urgent Type philosophical ethical activist When to use this quote - energy policy decisions - climate activism - industrial planning - public health debates Key Concepts moral philosophy environmental ethics risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - What truly harmful alternatives exist? - How can we balance urgency with caution? A Different Perspective It may overlook the urgent need for large‑scale solutions in crisis contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Burning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning/) [Burning fossil fuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burning-fossil-fuels/) [Car](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/car/) [Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon/) [Carbon Intensive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon-intensive-2018077/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Clubs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clubs/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Destroyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destroyed/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Earth Irreparable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth-irreparable-5748954/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Fossil fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossil-fuel/) [Fossil fuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossil-fuels/) [Fossils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossils/) [Fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fuel/) [Irreparable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/irreparable/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-power/) [Our children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-children/) [Sensible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensible/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Somewhat Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/somewhat-carbon-5748955/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Your children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-children/) ## Related quotes > [Please eat less meat - meat is a very carbon-intensive commodity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajendra-k-pachauri/please-eat-less-meat-meat-is-a-very-carbon-intensive-commodity/) [Rajendra K. 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