It is by all odds the loftiest of cities. It even managed to reach the highest point in the sky at the lowest moment of the depression.
E. B. WhiteRead
The terror of the atom age is not the violence of the new power but the speed of man's adjustment to it, the speed of his acceptance.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The fear of atomic power arises not from its destructive potential but from humanity's quick adaptation to it.
E. B. White's quote reflects a profound concern that the real danger of atomic energy lies in how rapidly society adjusts to wielding such immense power. Instead of focusing solely on the destructive capabilities of atomic weapons, it emphasizes the necessity of cautious and thoughtful adaptation to technological advancements, urging a deeper consideration of moral and ethical responsibilities.
Themes
Atomic PowerAdaptationResponsibilityTechnologySociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a public discussion on the implications of new technology, this quote could highlight the need for responsible adaptation.
More from E. B. White
All quotes βIt isn't silence you can cut with a knife any more, it's interchange of ideas. Intelligent discussion of practically everything is what is breaking up modern marriage.
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The main thing I try to do is write as clearly as I can. Because I have the greatest respect for the reader, and if he's going to the trouble of reading what I've written -- I'm a slow reader myself and I guess most people are -- why, the least I can do is make it as easy as possible for him to find out what I'm trying to say, trying to get at. I rewrite a good deal to make it clear.
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A good farmer is nothing more nor less than a handy man with a sense of humus.
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A despot doesn't fear eloquent writers preaching freedom- he fears a drunken poet who may crack a joke that will take hold.
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All writing is communication; creative writing is communication through revelation-it is the Self-escaping into the open.
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