--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Atomic Age was born in secrecy, and…" description: "\"The Atomic Age was born in secrecy, and for two decades after Hiroshima, the high priests of the cult of the atom concealed vital information about the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/stewart-udall-12055_age_the-atomic-age-was-born-in-secrecy-and-f_2509240.jpg" --- # The Atomic Age was born in secrecy, and for two decades… ![“The Atomic Age was born in secrecy, and for two decades after Hiroshima, the high priests of the cult of the atom concealed vital information about the risks to human health posed by radiation. Dr. Alice Stewart, an audacious and insightful medical researcher, was one of the first experts to alert…” quote by Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/stewart-udall-12055_age_the-atomic-age-was-born-in-secrecy-and-f_2509240.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/stewart-udall-12055_age_the-atomic-age-was-born-in-secrecy-and-f_2509240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0f8/stewart-udall-12055_age_the-atomic-age-was-born-in-secrecy-and-f_2509240.jpg) > “The Atomic Age was born in secrecy, and for two decades after Hiroshima, the high priests of the cult of the atom concealed vital information about the risks to human health posed by radiation. Dr. Alice Stewart, an audacious and insightful medical researcher, was one of the first experts to alert the world to the dangers of low-level radiation.” [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The early nuclear era kept radiation risks hidden, but researchers like Dr. Stewart warned the public about low‑level dangers. **In simple terms:** Radiation dangers were hidden; early warnings came from brave scientists. Key Takeaway Listen to scientific warnings about hidden risks. Themes history science ethics public health transparency Mood cautious reflective Type historical educational When to use this quote - policy making - environmental health - media reporting - education - risk assessment Key Concepts Radiation risk public awareness scientific advocacy Questions to Reflect On - How do societies balance scientific secrecy and public safety? - What mechanisms ensure early warnings are heeded? A Different Perspective The quote may overstate secrecy; some data were publicly known. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Alice Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alice-stewart-1140425/) [Atom Concealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atom-concealed-1140423/) [Atomic Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atomic-age-663412/) [Atomic bomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atomic-bomb/) [Atoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atoms/) [Audacious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/audacious/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Concealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concealed/) [Cult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cult/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Decades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decades/) [Drs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drs/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Hiroshima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hiroshima/) [Human health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-health/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Insightful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insightful/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Low level](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/low-level/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [Medical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medical/) [Priests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priests/) [Radiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radiation/) [Radiation Dr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radiation-dr-1140424/) [Researchers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/researchers/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Secrecy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secrecy/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ Alice Stewart \[is\] a much underestimated scientist who has been an indomitable challenger of the establishment and a thorn in the flesh of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-rotblat/alice-stewart-is-a-much-underestimated-scientist-who-has-been-an/) [Joseph Rotblat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-rotblat/) > [Society as we know it is almost a conspiracy against human health. One of the main forces working to counteract that is the trailsman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/society-as-we-know-it-is-almost-a-conspiracy-against-human-health-one/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [In this era of world wars, in this atomic age, values have changed. We have learned that we are guests of existence, travelers between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-pasternak/in-this-era-of-world-wars-in-this-atomic-age-values-have-changed-we/) [Boris Pasternak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-pasternak/) > [There, in the tin factory, in the first moment of the atomic age, a human being was crushed by books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hersey/there-in-the-tin-factory-in-the-first-moment-of-the-atomic-age-a/) [John Hersey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hersey/) > [The earlier, the more fun. Why put it off? 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-kennedy/there-is-no-morality-in-the-mushroom-cloud-the-black-rain-of-nuclear/) [Edward Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-kennedy/) > [The world is on the threshold of a new atomic age. It can become for mankind an era of unparalled darkness or deepest tragedy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-bunche/the-world-is-on-the-threshold-of-a-new-atomic-age-it-can-become-for/) [Ralph Bunche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-bunche/) > [“These politicians can’t see that the atomic age has created the most deadly saboteur in the history of the world – the little man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/these-politicians-can-t-see-that-the-atomic-age-has-created-the-most/) [Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/) > [The Atomic Age is here to stay - but are we?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bennett-cerf/the-atomic-age-is-here-to-stay-but-are-we/) [Bennett Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bennett-cerf/) > [“Our epoch has been give many nicknames--the Age of Anxiety, the Atomic Age, the Space Age. It might, with equally good reason, be called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/our-epoch-has-been-give-many-nicknames-the-age-of-anxiety-the-atomic/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The emergence of the Atomic Age brought the previously inchoate and 'free-floating' anxiety of many people into sharp focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-may/the-emergence-of-the-atomic-age-brought-the-previously-inchoate-and/) [Rollo May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-may/) > [If we are to survive the Atomic Age, we must have something to live by, to live on, and to live for. We must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-p-kretzmann/if-we-are-to-survive-the-atomic-age-we-must-have-something-to-live-by/) [O. P. Kretzmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-p-kretzmann/) > [Could we have avoided the tragedy of Hiroshima? Could we have started the atomic age with clean hands? No one knows. No one can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-teller/could-we-have-avoided-the-tragedy-of-hiroshima-could-we-have-started/) [Edward Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-teller/) ## More by Stewart Udall > [I like the story about Henry David Thoreau, who, when he was on his death bed, his family sent for a minister. The minister…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/i-like-the-story-about-henry-david-thoreau-who-when-he-was-on-his/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [The most common trait of all primitive peoples is a reverence for the life-giving earth, and the Native American shared this elemental ethic: The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-most-common-trait-of-all-primitive-peoples-is-a-reverence-for-the/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [The atomic weapons race and the secrecy surrounding it crushed American democracy. It induced us to conduct government according to lies. It distorted justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-atomic-weapons-race-and-the-secrecy-surrounding-it-crushed/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [Nature will take precedence over the needs of the modern man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/nature-will-take-precedence-over-the-needs-of-the-modern-man/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [In a region with a growing population, if you're doing nothing, you're losing ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/in-a-region-with-a-growing-population-if-you-re-doing-nothing-you-re/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [A limit on the automobile population of the United States would be the best of news for our cities. The end of automania would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/a-limit-on-the-automobile-population-of-the-united-states-would-be/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [We have, I fear, confused power with greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/we-have-i-fear-confused-power-with-greatness/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [Lady Bird Johnson did more than plant flowers in public places. She served the country superbly by planting environmental values in the minds of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/lady-bird-johnson-did-more-than-plant-flowers-in-public-places-she/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [I don't remember a big fight between the Republicans and Democrats in the Nixon administration or President Gerald Ford and so on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/i-don-t-remember-a-big-fight-between-the-republicans-and-democrats-in/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [The most common trait of all primitive peoples is a reverence for the life-giving earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/the-most-common-trait-of-all-primitive-peoples-is-a-reverence-for-the-2/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/plans-to-protect-air-and-water-wilderness-and-wildlife-are-in-fact/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [Cherish sunsets, wild creatures, and wild places. Have a love affair with the wonder and beauty of the earth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/cherish-sunsets-wild-creatures-and-wild-places-have-a-love-affair/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [It induced us to conduct government according to lies. It distorted justice. It undermined American morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/it-induced-us-to-conduct-government-according-to-lies-it-distorted/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [America today stands poised on a pinnacle of wealth and power, yet we live in a land of vanishing beauty, of increasing ugliness, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/america-today-stands-poised-on-a-pinnacle-of-wealth-and-power-yet-we/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) > [Over the long haul of life on this planet, it is the ecologists, and not the bookkeepers of business, who are the ultimate accountants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-udall/over-the-long-haul-of-life-on-this-planet-it-is-the-ecologists-and/) [Stewart Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) [Explore all 56 Stewart Udall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-udall/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. 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