Reading Einstein’s warnings on mass destruction today is a chilling experience. You realize he wasn't a prophet of doom—he was a doctor diagnosing a terminal patient. He gave us the prescription (global cooperation, abolition of war), knowing we probably wouldn't take it.
Einstein was not a politician; he was a humanitarian who had seen two world wars. His "menace" speech was unique because it contained and no optimism . He didn't believe humanity was inherently good; he believed it was inherently smart enough to be terrified. Reading Einstein’s warnings on mass destruction today is
This must not be. We must have the courage to renounce war as an instrument of national policy. We must build a world based on law and justice, where disputes are settled by peaceful means. This is the only way to ensure that the menace of mass destruction will be lifted from the hearts of men. Einstein was not a politician; he was a
Governments wanted to classify nuclear physics. Einstein laughed at this. He noted that nature’s laws are not patentable. Any industrialized nation will figure out the bomb. Secrecy breeds paranoia, not safety. This must not be