Wow, I spent at least a couple of hours over the last two days reading this entire thread. Many thought provoking quotations.
I would like to contribute a couple right at the moment of my thoughts. These first two are from my just finishing reading
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. In that book this exchange between Robert Oppenheimer and Harry Truman is related (taking place after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki):
Quote:
Oppenheimer: “I feel that I have blood on my hands.”
Truman: “Well go wipe them.”
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I had actually read a similar account in the book
Brotherhood of the Bomb by Gregg Herken (only in this case the conversation supposedly was between Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves):
Quote:
Oppenheimer: “I feel that I have blood on my hands.”
Groves: “Well go wash them.”
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I do not know what account is the true one. What I find interesting is how well it captures both the strengths and weaknesses of both types of men.
This all made me think of something from
The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis:
Quote:
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“The doors of heaven and hell are adjacent, and identical: both green, both beautiful. Take care, Adam! Take care! Take care!”
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