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Atom Bomb Quotes

Historical voices on the decision, power, and politics of the atom bomb.

These atom bomb quotes trace a real split in how the weapon has been discussed publicly, from framing the original wartime decision as a matter of political and military calculation, to a Cold War-era claim dismissing the bomb's threat as bluster. The page presents each speaker's stance without endorsing either side of that debate.

The atom bomb is a paper tiger which the United States reactionaries use to scare people. It looks terrible, but in fact it isn't.

Quotes by Mao Zedong

I am not sure why, but I have been obsessed by the Atom Bomb ever since it first happened.

Quotes by Lanford Wilson

The decision to use the atom bomb on Japanese cities, and the consequent buildup of enormous nuclear arsenals, was made by governments, on the basis of political and military perceptions.

Quotes by Joseph Rotblat

The atom bomb was no 'great decision.' It was merely another powerful weapon in the arsenal of righteousness.

Quotes by Harry S Truman

Bomb Quotes

No country without an atom bomb could properly consider itself independent.

Quotes by Charles de Gaulle

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do these atom bomb quotes take a single position on whether using it was right?
No, the page includes contrasting views without picking a side. One quote frames the choice as a governmental judgment based on political and military factors, while another dismisses the weapon's danger as overstated propaganda.
What does the 'paper tiger' quote mean?
It's a Cold War-era statement arguing the atom bomb looked frightening but wasn't as decisive a threat as governments claimed, a rhetorical stance rather than a factual assessment of nuclear weapons.
Is the decision to use the bomb on Japanese cities discussed here as settled history?
The page notes it was a choice made by governments weighing political and military considerations at the time, and includes a separate quote rejecting the idea that it was ever a simple decision.
Why does one quote describe being 'obsessed' with the atom bomb?
That line reflects a personal, lasting fascination with the bomb's history and impact rather than a policy argument, showing how the subject continues to draw attention decades later.
How does this page relate to broader nuclear arsenal quotes?
It connects to pages like consequent quotes for readers interested in the buildup of nuclear stockpiles that followed the first bomb's use, alongside quotes on national policy more generally.

Other quotes describe a personal fascination with the bomb's history rather than a policy position, while one speaker rejects the idea that deploying it was ever a straightforward call. For related reading, see consequent quotes and country quotes.