--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Everybody says, \"Well, if it's a…" description: "\"Everybody says, \"Well, if it's a democracy, let them have nuclear weapons.\" America is the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons. We're the o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/robert-scheer-12420_america_everybody-says-well-if-it-s-a-democracy_1281644.png" --- # Everybody says, "Well, if it's a democracy, let them have… ![“Everybody says, "Well, if it's a democracy, let them have nuclear weapons." America is the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons. We're the only ones, this democracy, our great democracy.” quote by Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/robert-scheer-12420_america_everybody-says-well-if-it-s-a-democracy_1281644.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/robert-scheer-12420_america_everybody-says-well-if-it-s-a-democracy_1281644.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56b/robert-scheer-12420_america_everybody-says-well-if-it-s-a-democracy_1281644.png) > “Everybody says, "Well, if it's a democracy, let them have nuclear weapons." America is the only country that has ever used nuclear weapons. We're the only ones, this democracy, our great democracy.” [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Democratic nations may paradoxically claim moral superiority while possessing destructive power, exposing contradictions in policy. **In simple terms:** Democracy can hold nuclear weapons despite moral claims. Key Takeaway Critically examine the ethics of nuclear deterrence. Themes democracy nuclear weapons policy hypocrisy global security Mood critical thought‑provoking Type political philosophical When to use this quote - government debates - peace negotiations - public protests Key Concepts ethics political theory international relations Questions to Reflect On - Is nuclear deterrence compatible with democratic values? - How should democracies reconcile security with moral leadership? A Different Perspective Some argue nuclear arms deter war; others see them as immoral. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [When Bush says democracy, I often wonder what he's referring to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/when-bush-says-democracy-i-often-wonder-what-he-s-referring-to/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [We have chemical weapons in America too, they're called meth and cocaine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-esparza/we-have-chemical-weapons-in-america-too-they-re-called-meth-and/) [Felipe Esparza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-esparza/) > [“We knew no one man had killed the prophet. Rather, the combined weight of racism and an absence of moral courage had crushed him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marita-golden/we-knew-no-one-man-had-killed-the-prophet-rather-the-combined-weight/) [Marita Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marita-golden/) > [We know he's been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/we-know-he-s-been-absolutely-devoted-to-trying-to-acquire-nuclear/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [One of the problems with industrialism is that it's based on the premise of more and more. It has to keep expanding to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dora-russell/one-of-the-problems-with-industrialism-is-that-it-s-based-on-the/) [Dora Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dora-russell/) > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [In the late 1950s a major topic under discussion was whether Canada should acquire nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-charles-polanyi/in-the-late-1950s-a-major-topic-under-discussion-was-whether-canada/) [John Charles Polanyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-charles-polanyi/) > [It is such a supreme folly to believe that nuclear weapons are deadly only if they're used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/it-is-such-a-supreme-folly-to-believe-that-nuclear-weapons-are-deadly/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Israel has a couple of hundred nuclear weapons and also chemical and biological weapons. 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Kim Jong-un isn't doing too badly, either…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fisk/wasn-t-saddam-destroyed-wasn-t-gaddafi-liquidated-didn-t-milosevic-go/) [Robert Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fisk/) > [A nuclear-weapons armed Iran is not in anyone's human-rights interests. That is a direct threat to the lives and the livelihoods and the stability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/a-nuclear-weapons-armed-iran-is-not-in-anyone-s-human-rights/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [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/) ## More by Robert Scheer > [I was able to do something that people can't do these days, which is to have quality time with the guys who were trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/i-was-able-to-do-something-that-people-can-t-do-these-days-which-is/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [The publisher Jeff Johnson, who has offered not a word of explanation to me, has privately told people that he hated every word that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-publisher-jeff-johnson-who-has-offered-not-a-word-of-explanation/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [When Howard Dean started saying some honest things, they hung him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/when-howard-dean-started-saying-some-honest-things-they-hung-him/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [Well, what happened is that I had been the subject of vicious attacks by Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/well-what-happened-is-that-i-had-been-the-subject-of-vicious-attacks/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [I have broken a lot of stories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/i-have-broken-a-lot-of-stories/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [There's a problem of terrorism in the world. There's always been terrorism. There will be terrorism. You have to deal with it surgically. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/there-s-a-problem-of-terrorism-in-the-world-there-s-always-been/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [Even with the best of intentions, even when they're very smart and knowledgeable - as opposed to George W., who is neither - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/even-with-the-best-of-intentions-even-when-they-re-very-smart-and/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [We talk about a free press. These people hide, they make a lot of money off the media. They hide behind the slogans of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/we-talk-about-a-free-press-these-people-hide-they-make-a-lot-of-money/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [Democrats can give us wars, you know? Democrats can play the false patriotism card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/democrats-can-give-us-wars-you-know-democrats-can-play-the-false/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [What passes for investigative journalism is finding somebody with their pants down - literally or otherwise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/what-passes-for-investigative-journalism-is-finding-somebody-with/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [ He \[Reagan\] likes to tell jokes and that's why he told the ethnic joke that got him into some trouble. Perhaps if reporters didn't… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/he-reagan-likes-to-tell-jokes-and-that-s-why-he-told-the-ethnic-joke/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [The paper nominated me 12 or 13 times for the Pulitzer Prize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-paper-nominated-me-12-or-13-times-for-the-pulitzer-prize/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [For example, I spent a lot of time with Reagan, both before he ran for governor and when he was running for president. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/for-example-i-spent-a-lot-of-time-with-reagan-both-before-he-ran-for/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [The issue I highlight in the book is welfare reform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-issue-i-highlight-in-the-book-is-welfare-reform/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) > [The death of American liberalism as a significant moral force can be traced to the point in when President Bill Clinton signed legislation that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheer/the-death-of-american-liberalism-as-a-significant-moral-force-can-be/) [Robert Scheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) [Explore all 55 Robert Scheer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheer/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. 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