Quote #2

I am not proud of the part I played in it. I did it because it was necessary for the safety of this country. That's why I am such a great exponent of stopping this whole nonsense of war. Unfortunately limits - attempts to limit war have always failed. The lesson of history is when a war starts every nation will ultimately use whatever weapon it has available. ... Therefore, we must expect that if another war - a serious war - breaks out, we will use nuclear energy in some form.

More from Hyman G. Rickover

  1. I'll be philosophical. Until about two billion years ago, it was impossible to have any life on earth; that is, there was so much radiation…
  2. If you are going to sin, sin against God, not the bureaucracy. God will forgive you but the bureaucracy won't.
  3. An academic reactor or reactor plant almost always has the following basic characteristics: (1) It is simple. (2) It is small. (3) It is ch…
  4. The tools of the academic designer are a piece of paper and a pencil with an eraser. If a mistake is made, it can always be erased and chan…
  5. The academic-reactor designer is a dilettante. He has not had to assume any real responsibility in connection with his projects. He is free…
  6. Unfortunately for those who must make far-reaching decision without the benefit of an intimate knowledge of reactor technology, and unfortu…
  7. Yet it is incumbent on those in high places to make wise decisions and it is reasonable and important that the public be correctly informed…
  8. Some of the ideas I try to get across to the people who work for me are the following:

All Hyman G. Rickover quotes