--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In our new age of terrifying, lethal…" description: "\"“In our new age of terrifying, lethal gadgets, which supplanted so swiftly the old one, the first great aggressive war, if it should come, will be laun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/william-l-shirer-14635_war_in-our-new-age-of-terrifying-lethal-gadg_169392.jpg" --- # In our new age of terrifying, lethal gadgets, which… ![“In our new age of terrifying, lethal gadgets, which supplanted so swiftly the old one, the first great aggressive war, if it should come, will be launched by suicidal little madmen pressing an electronic button. Such a war will not last long and none will ever follow it. There will be no…” quote by William L. Shirer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/william-l-shirer-14635_war_in-our-new-age-of-terrifying-lethal-gadg_169392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/william-l-shirer-14635_war_in-our-new-age-of-terrifying-lethal-gadg_169392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb9/william-l-shirer-14635_war_in-our-new-age-of-terrifying-lethal-gadg_169392.jpg) > ““In our new age of terrifying, lethal gadgets, which supplanted so swiftly the old one, the first great aggressive war, if it should come, will be launched by suicidal little madmen pressing an electronic button. Such a war will not last long and none will ever follow it. There will be no conquerors and no conquests, but only the charred bones of the dead on an uninhabited planet. Book One THE RISE OF ADOLF HITLER”” [William L. Shirer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-l-shirer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Future wars may be launched by individuals with destructive technology, ending quickly without conquest. **In simple terms:** Suicidal individuals could start brief, devastating wars. Key Takeaway Beware of technology in the hands of few. Themes war technology existential risk Mood ominous analytical Type speculative warning When to use this quote - policy making - military strategy - public awareness campaigns - ethical AI development Key Concepts nuclear deterrence AI weapons psychology of aggression Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards can prevent impulsive attacks? - How does technology change the nature of conflict? A Different Perspective Deterrence may fail if actors are irrational. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“In our new age of terrifying, lethal gadgets, which supplanted so swiftly the old one, the first great aggressive war, if it should come,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-l-shirer/in-our-new-age-of-terrifying-lethal-gadgets-which-supplanted-so-2/) [William L. Shirer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-l-shirer/) > [“Adolf Hitler is probably the last of the great adventurer-conquerors in the tradition of Alexander, Caesar and Napoleon, and the Third Reich the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-l-shirer/adolf-hitler-is-probably-the-last-of-the-great-adventurer-conquerors-2/) [William L. 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