Oppenheimer 2023 quotes, page 2

Strauss

I told you. He turned the scientists against me, one by one, starting with Einstein. I told you about that. Einstein, Einstein by the pond.
Strauss' aide: You did, but you know, sir, since nobody.. really knows what they said to each other that day, is it possible they didn’t talk about you at all? Is it possible they spoke about something, uh.. more important?

No board in this country should sit in judgement of a man because he expressed strong opinions. If you want to try that case, you can try me.

Is there no way to demonstrate a bomb to Japan to provoke surrender?

Leslie Groves

We intend to demonstrate it in the most unambiguous terms. Twice. Once to show the weapon's power, and a second to show we can keep doing this until they surrender.

We have a list of twelve cities to choose from. [he crosses off one city] Sorry, eleven. I've taken Kyoto off the list due to its cultural significance to the Japanese people. Also, [chuckles] my wife and I honeymooned there. It's a magnificent city. Let me make this simple for you, gentlemen. According to my intelligence, which I cannot share with you, the Japanese people will not surrender under any circumstances, short of a successful and total invasion of the home islands. Many lives will be lost, American and Japanese. The use of the atomic bomb on Japanese cities will save lives.

J. Robert Oppenheimer

If we retain moral advantage.

How so?

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Well if we use this weapon without informing our allies, they'll see it as a threat. And we'll be in an arms race.

Albert Einstein

Thank you.

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Hello, Albert.

Albert Einstein

The man of the moment. You once held a reception for me, in Berkeley, you gave me an award.

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Yes.

Albert Einstein

You all thought I had lost the ability to understand what I had started. So the award really wasn’t for me, it was for all of you. Hm? Now it’s your turn. To deal with the consequences of your achievement. And one day, when they’ve punished you enough, they’ll serve you salmon and potato salad. Make speeches. Give you a medal. Pat you on the back, tell you all is forgiven. Just remember, it won’t be for you. It will be for them.

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Albert, when I came to you with those calculations, we thought we might start a chain reaction that would destroy the entire world...

Albert Einstein

I remember it well. What of it?

J. Robert Oppenheimer

I believe we did.

Niels Bohr

Algebra is like sheet music. The important thing isn't, "can you read music," it's "can you hear it."

Lewis Strauss

Amateurs seek the sun. Get eaten. Power stays in the shadows.

J. Robert Oppenheimer

America and Russia may be likened to two scorpions in a bottle, each capable of killing the other, but only at the risk of his own life.

Isidor Rabi

An H-bomb would be one thousand times the power of an A-bomb.
The only intended target would be the largest cities.
It’s a weapon of mass genocide.

J. Robert Oppenheimer

Don't underestimate the psychological impact of an atomic explosion. A pillar of fire ten thousand feet tall, deadly neutron effects for a mile in all directions from one single device, dropped from a barely noticeable B-29. The atomic bomb will be a terrible revelation of divine power.

Kenneth Nichols

Dr Oppenheimer, the fact that your security clearance is proving difficult to obtain is not my fault. It’s yours.

Lewis Strauss

Genius is no guarantee of wisdom.

Lewis Strauss

He wanted the glorious insincere guilt of the self-important to wear like a ****in' crown, and I gave it to him.

Leo Szilard

History will judge us, Robert.

Lewis Strauss

I did what was right for this country. They don’t want me in the Cabinet Room? Maybe they should just invite Oppenheimer instead.

J. Robert Oppenheimer

I don't know if we can be trusted with such a weapon, but I know the Nazis can't.