It is a socialist idea that making profits is a vice; I consider the real vice is making losses.
Winston ChurchillRead
This revelation of the secrets of nature, long mercifully withheld from man, should arouse the most solemn reflections in the mind and conscience of every human being capable of comprehension. We must indeed pray that these awful agencies will be made to conduce to peace among the nations, and that instead of wreaking measureless havoc upon the entire globe, may become a perennial fountain of world prosperity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the responsibility that knowledge brings and the hope that scientific advancements will lead to peace rather than destruction.
Winston Churchill highlights the profound impact of scientific revelations on humanity, calling for deep reflection on their potential consequences. He expresses a desire that the powerful forces unveiled through knowledge be directed towards fostering peace and prosperity, rather than chaos and destruction, urging humanity to use these advancements wisely.
Themes
KnowledgeResponsibilityPeaceNatureScientific Advancements
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about scientific innovation and ethics, one might refer to Churchill's thoughts on the responsibility that comes with new discoveries.
More from Winston Churchill
All quotes βThe United States is like a gigantic boiler. Once the fire is lit under it, there's no limit to the power it can generate.
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Politics is almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.
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I will not pretend that if I had to choose between communism and Nazism I would choose communism.
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Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them.
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True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information.
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Self-examination - when the whole world around you is pressuring that and challenging you - is very, very hard. Looking at a whole structure - in my case, let us say of snobbery, basking in certain privileges, marks of what appear to be superiority - that's ugly to look at.
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The reason why the world lacks unity, and lies broken and in heaps, is, because man is disunited with himself.
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Don't compete with me: firstly, I have more experience, and secondly, I have chosen the weapons.
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