“On the day when two army corps may mutually annihilate each other in a second, probably all civilized nations will recoil with horror and disband their troops.”
- October 21, 1833 – December 10, 1896
- Born in Sweden
- Inventor, chemist, businessman
- Invented dynamite and established the Nobel Prize
Quote
“On the day when two army corps may mutually annihilate each other in a second, probably all civilized nations will recoil with horror and disband their troops.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Alfred Nobel’s hope that the development of devastating military technology would lead to a collective realization of the futility of war and encourage global disarmament. Nobel, who invented dynamite and witnessed its destructive potential, may have believed that the sheer horror of advanced weaponry would force humanity to reconsider the ethics of war and seek peaceful resolutions.
Historically, Nobel’s statement can be seen as prescient, given the advent of weapons like nuclear bombs, which have the capacity for instantaneous mass destruction. World War I and II, followed by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, vividly illustrated the catastrophic potential Nobel foresaw. However, rather than leading to immediate disarmament, these events prompted an arms race, though they also inspired international efforts such as the formation of the United Nations and disarmament treaties.
In modern times, this idea remains relevant in debates about military technology and deterrence. For example, proponents of nuclear disarmament echo Nobel’s vision, arguing that the existence of such weapons poses an existential threat. The quote serves as both a warning and a hope—that humanity might ultimately reject war not through moral reasoning alone but through a visceral reaction to its destructive extremes. Nobel’s legacy as the founder of the Nobel Peace Prize underscores his enduring belief in the possibility of global harmony.
