---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person whose job is deep thinking about…"
description: "\"A person whose job is deep thinking about atomic war would no more call a 'megadeath' a 'million corpses' than an embalmer would refer to a 'loved one'..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/russell-baker-2930_atomic-war_a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-abou_3068314.png"
---

#  A person whose job is deep thinking about atomic war would…

![“A person whose job is deep thinking about atomic war would no more call a 'megadeath' a 'million corpses' than an embalmer would refer to a 'loved one' as a 'stiff.'” quote by Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/russell-baker-2930_atomic-war_a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-abou_3068314.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/russell-baker-2930_atomic-war_a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-abou_3068314.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/russell-baker-2930_atomic-war_a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-abou_3068314.png)

> “A person whose job is deep thinking about atomic war would no more call a 'megadeath' a 'million corpses' than an embalmer would refer to a 'loved one' as a 'stiff.'”

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

## About This Quote

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

Comparing war casualties to everyday language reveals how euphemisms desensitize us to violence.

**In simple terms:** Euphemisms hide the horror of war.

Key Takeaway

Use precise language.

Themes

language war ethics

Mood

critical thoughtful

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

- journalism
- education
- policy debate

Key Concepts

euphemism moral perception

Questions to Reflect On

- Should we always be blunt?
- When is softened language appropriate?

A Different Perspective

Euphemisms can also protect emotional health.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Atomic war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atomic-war/) [Corpses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corpses/) [Corpses Embalmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/corpses-embalmer-5178542/) [Deep thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-thinking/) [Embalmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embalmer-308209/) [Embalmer Refer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embalmer-refer-5178543/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Loved ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-ones/) [Million Corpses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/million-corpses-2920800/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War Megadeath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-megadeath-5178544/)

## Related quotes

> [But what are a hundred million deaths? When one has served in a war, one hardly knows what a dead man is, after a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/but-what-are-a-hundred-million-deaths-when-one-has-served-in-a-war/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [Being a good embalmer is a thankless job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-groening/being-a-good-embalmer-is-a-thankless-job/)

[Matt Groening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-groening/)

> [Ronald Reagan: a triumph of the embalmer's art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/ronald-reagan-a-triumph-of-the-embalmer-s-art/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [“Ronald Reagan is a triumph of the embalmer's art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/ronald-reagan-is-a-triumph-of-the-embalmer-s-art/)

[Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/)

> [ The use of \[the atomic bombs\] at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-d-leahy/the-use-of-the-atomic-bombs-at-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-was-of-no/)

[William D. Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-d-leahy/)

> [Since I do not forsee that atomic energy is to be a great boon for a long time, I have to say that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/since-i-do-not-forsee-that-atomic-energy-is-to-be-a-great-boon-for-a/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-solution-to-this-problem-lies-in-the-heart-of-mankind/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/ours-is-a-world-of-nuclear-giants-and-ethical-infants-we-know-more/)

[Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/)

> [In an atomic war, all men will be cremated equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-an-atomic-war-all-men-will-be-cremated-equal/)

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

> [In the question of peace, people spoke up and demonstrated for peace and against the threat of war, the threat of atomic war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-heym/in-the-question-of-peace-people-spoke-up-and-demonstrated-for-peace/)

[Stefan Heym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-heym/)

> [The conflict that exists today is no more than an old-style struggle for power, once again presented to mankind in semireligious trappings. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-conflict-that-exists-today-is-no-more-than-an-old-style-struggle/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-way-to-win-an-atomic-war-is-to-make-certain-it-never-starts/)

[Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/)

> [The problem of an atomic war must not be confused by minor problems such as Communism versus capitalism. An atomic war would kill everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-problem-of-an-atomic-war-must-not-be-confused-by-minor-problems/)

[Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/)

> [Based on a detailed investigation of all the facts and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the Survey's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nitze/based-on-a-detailed-investigation-of-all-the-facts-and-supported-by/)

[Paul Nitze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nitze/)

> [I had been conscious of depression and so I voiced to (Sec. Of War Stimson) my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/i-had-been-conscious-of-depression-and-so-i-voiced-to-sec-of-war/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

## More by Russell Baker

> [Unpleasant questions are being raised about Mother's Day. Is this day necessary? . . . Isn't it bad public policy? . . . No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/unpleasant-questions-are-being-raised-about-mother-s-day-is-this-day/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [The people who are always hankering loudest for some golden yesteryear usually drive new cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/the-people-who-are-always-hankering-loudest-for-some-golden/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [In writing, punctuation plays the role of body language. It helps readers hear you the way you want to be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/in-writing-punctuation-plays-the-role-of-body-language-it-helps/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [Kingsley Amis was one of a trio of brilliant comic novelists who made English literature sparkle in the twentieth century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/kingsley-amis-was-one-of-a-trio-of-brilliant-comic-novelists-who-made/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [Life seemed to be an educator's practical joke in which you spent the first half learning and the second half learning that everything you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/life-seemed-to-be-an-educator-s-practical-joke-in-which-you-spent-the/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [I gave up on new poetry myself 30 years ago when most of it began to read like coded messages passing between lonely aliens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/i-gave-up-on-new-poetry-myself-30-years-ago-when-most-of-it-began-to/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [After two years studying what rewrite men did with the facts I phoned them, I knew that journalism was essentially a task of stringing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/after-two-years-studying-what-rewrite-men-did-with-the-facts-i-phoned/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [American foreign policy had still not recovered from its victory over communism when George W. Bush and Condoleezza Rice took over at the White…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/american-foreign-policy-had-still-not-recovered-from-its-victory-over/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [Anything that isn't opposed by about 40 percent of humanity is either an evil business or so unimportant that it simply doesn't matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/anything-that-isn-t-opposed-by-about-40-percent-of-humanity-is-either/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [When you're the only pea in the pod, your parents are likely to get you confused with the Hope diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/when-you-re-the-only-pea-in-the-pod-your-parents-are-likely-to-get/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [Serious journalism need not be solemn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/serious-journalism-need-not-be-solemn/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [Ireland really is my problem; the breaking point of the huge suppuration which all British and all European society now is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/ireland-really-is-my-problem-the-breaking-point-of-the-huge/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [Journalism talk is part of the nonstop background noise of American life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/journalism-talk-is-part-of-the-nonstop-background-noise-of-american/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [An educated person is one who has learned that information almost always turns out to be at best incomplete and very often false, misleading,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/an-educated-person-is-one-who-has-learned-that-information-almost/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

> [The best discussion of trouble in boardroom and business office is found in newspapers' own financial pages and speeches by journalists in management jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/the-best-discussion-of-trouble-in-boardroom-and-business-office-is/)

[Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

[Explore all 145 Russell Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/)

## More Atomic war quotes

> [I had been conscious of depression and so I voiced to (Sec. Of War Stimson) my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/i-had-been-conscious-of-depression-and-so-i-voiced-to-sec-of-war/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [In an atomic war, all men will be cremated equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-an-atomic-war-all-men-will-be-cremated-equal/)

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

> [The conflict that exists today is no more than an old-style struggle for power, once again presented to mankind in semireligious trappings. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-conflict-that-exists-today-is-no-more-than-an-old-style-struggle/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [The way to win an atomic war is to make certain it never starts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/the-way-to-win-an-atomic-war-is-to-make-certain-it-never-starts/)

[Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/)

> [ The use of \[the atomic bombs\] at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-d-leahy/the-use-of-the-atomic-bombs-at-hiroshima-and-nagasaki-was-of-no/)

[William D. Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-d-leahy/)

> [Based on a detailed investigation of all the facts and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the Survey's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nitze/based-on-a-detailed-investigation-of-all-the-facts-and-supported-by/)

[Paul Nitze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nitze/)

> [The problem of an atomic war must not be confused by minor problems such as Communism versus capitalism. An atomic war would kill everyone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/the-problem-of-an-atomic-war-must-not-be-confused-by-minor-problems/)

[Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/)

> [In the question of peace, people spoke up and demonstrated for peace and against the threat of war, the threat of atomic war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-heym/in-the-question-of-peace-people-spoke-up-and-demonstrated-for-peace/)

[Stefan Heym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-heym/)

> [Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/ours-is-a-world-of-nuclear-giants-and-ethical-infants-we-know-more/)

[Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/)

> [The solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-solution-to-this-problem-lies-in-the-heart-of-mankind/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Since I do not forsee that atomic energy is to be a great boon for a long time, I have to say that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/since-i-do-not-forsee-that-atomic-energy-is-to-be-a-great-boon-for-a/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-only-i-had-known-i-should-have-become-a-watchmaker/)

[Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/)

> [Wars cannot be won by destroying women and children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-d-leahy/wars-cannot-be-won-by-destroying-women-and-children/)

[William D. Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-d-leahy/)

> [In the event of atomic war there is a tremendous biological advantage in the so-called undeveloped areas that have a high birth rate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/in-the-event-of-atomic-war-there-is-a-tremendous-biological-advantage/)

[William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/)

> [It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-d-leahy/it-is-my-opinion-that-the-use-of-this-barbarous-weapon-at-hiroshima/)

[William D. Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-d-leahy/)

[Browse all 20 Atomic war quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atomic-war/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A person whose job is deep thinking about atomic war would no more call a 'megadeath' a 'million corpses' than an embalmer would refer to a 'loved one' as a 'stiff.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Russell Baker"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-about-atomic-war-would-no-more/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Atomic war"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-about-atomic-war-would-no-more/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/russell-baker-2930_atomic-war_a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-abou_3068314.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/russell-baker-2930_atomic-war_a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-abou_3068314.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/db9/russell-baker-2930_atomic-war_a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-abou_3068314.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A person whose job is deep thinking about atomic war would no more call a 'megadeath' a 'million corpses'…” — Russell Baker",
                "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": "Russell Baker",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A person whose job is deep...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-about-atomic-war-would-no-more/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/a-person-whose-job-is-deep-thinking-about-atomic-war-would-no-more/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```