Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Truman claims Hiroshima was chosen to spare civilians as much as possible.
In plain terms
The first bomb targeted a military base to limit civilian deaths.
What can you take from it?
Intentions may not prevent suffering.

Where it applies

  • historical analysis
  • debates on war

Putting it to work

  • study nuclear history

Questions to consider

  • Can war ever be clean?
  • How do you judge past actions?

Another view

Civilian casualties still occurred regardless of intent.

More from Harry S. Truman

  1. The British, Chinese, and United States Governments have given the Japanese people adequate warning of what is in store for them. We have laid down the general…

    Permalink to quote #34
  2. If Japan does not surrender, bombs will have to be dropped on her war industries and, unfortunately, thousands of civilian lives will be lost. I urge Japanese …

    Permalink to quote #36
  3. Today, America has become one of the most powerful forces for good on earth. We must keep it so. We have achieved a world leadership which does not depend sole…

    Permalink to quote #33

Related quotes

  1. I have tried at all times to slaughter as few civilians as possible.

    Curtis LeMayCurtis LeMay quote #2
  2. If Paulus's army had capitulated before the end, the Russians would have had the advantage of withdrawing forces against Paulus and against the southern front,…

    Erich von MansteinErich von Manstein quote #1
  3. War is inevitable, and this time, it will be truly world wide. It will unravel everywhere and there will be no limit to its battlefields. The condemnations of …

    Otto SkorzenyOtto Skorzeny quote #1