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Jonathan Schell

17quotes

Jonathan Schell: A Pioneering Journalist and Writer


Full Name and Common Aliases


Jonathan Schell was born on May 21, 1943. He is often referred to as Jon Schell.

Birth and Death Dates


Birth date: May 21, 1943
Death date: Not applicable (still living)

Nationality and Profession(s)


Nationality: American
Profession: Journalist, writer, and activist

Early Life and Background


Jonathan Schell was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in a family that valued education and politics. His father, George P. Schell, was a lawyer who worked for the US government during World War II. Schell's early life was marked by a strong sense of social justice, which would later influence his writing.

Major Accomplishments


Schell is known for his work as a journalist and writer on issues related to nuclear war and disarmament. He has written extensively on the topics of politics, history, and international relations. Some of his notable works include:

"The Fate of the World" (1982), which examined the dangers of nuclear war
 "The Gift of Peace: The Transition to a Nonviolent Society" (2003), which explored alternative forms of conflict resolution

Notable Works or Actions


Schell's writing career spans over four decades. He has contributed articles and essays to various publications, including The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Nation. In addition to his written work, Schell was an active member of the anti-war movement during the 1960s and 1970s.

Impact and Legacy


Jonathan Schell's writing has had a significant impact on public discourse about nuclear war and disarmament. His work continues to be widely read and studied today. Schell is also remembered for his commitment to social justice and his willingness to challenge prevailing attitudes on complex issues.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Jonathan Schell's quotes are often cited because of their insight into the human cost of war and conflict. His writing provides a unique perspective on the consequences of military action and the importance of nonviolent resolution. Readers continue to draw inspiration from his work, which remains relevant in today's world.

As a pioneering journalist and writer, Jonathan Schell has left an indelible mark on public discourse about peace and disarmament.

Quotes by Jonathan Schell

Deterence is only a stay of execution, not a reprieve.
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Deterence is only a stay of execution, not a reprieve.
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Every person is the right person to act. Every moment is the right moment to begin.
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Every person is the right person to act. Every moment is the right moment to begin.
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#moments
Since after extinction no one will be present to take responsibility, we have to take full responsibility now.
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Since after extinction no one will be present to take responsibility, we have to take full responsibility now.
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#inspiring
Lovers of freedom, lovers of social justice, disarmers, peacekeepers, civil disobeyers, democrats, civil-rights activists, and defenders of the environment are legions in a single multiform cause, and they will gain strength by knowing it, taking encouragement from it, and when appropriate and opportune, pooling their efforts.
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Lovers of freedom, lovers of social justice, disarmers, peacekeepers, civil disobeyers, democrats, civil-rights activists, and defenders of the environment are legions in a single multiform cause, and they will gain strength by knowing it, taking encouragement from it, and when appropriate and opportune, pooling their efforts.
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#encouragement
The nuclear peril is usually seen in isolation from the threats to other forms of life and their ecosystems, but in fact it should be seen at the very center of the ecological crisis, as the cloud-covered Everest of which the more immediate, visible kinds of harm to the environment are the mere foothills.
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The nuclear peril is usually seen in isolation from the threats to other forms of life and their ecosystems, but in fact it should be seen at the very center of the ecological crisis, as the cloud-covered Everest of which the more immediate, visible kinds of harm to the environment are the mere foothills.
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#clouds
The machinery of destruction is complete, poised on a hair trigger, waiting for the 'button' to be 'pushed' by some misguided or deranged human being or for some faulty computer chip to send out the instruction to fire. That so much should be balanced on so fine a point--that the fruit of four and a half billion years can be undone in a careless moment--is a fact against which belief rebels.
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The machinery of destruction is complete, poised on a hair trigger, waiting for the 'button' to be 'pushed' by some misguided or deranged human being or for some faulty computer chip to send out the instruction to fire. That so much should be balanced on so fine a point--that the fruit of four and a half billion years can be undone in a careless moment--is a fact against which belief rebels.
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#hair
Of course, some will say the goal [of abolition] is a utopian dream of human perfection. We needn't worry. There will be more than enough sins left for everyone to commit after we have taken nuclear bombs away from ourselves.
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Of course, some will say the goal [of abolition] is a utopian dream of human perfection. We needn't worry. There will be more than enough sins left for everyone to commit after we have taken nuclear bombs away from ourselves.
JS
#dream
The spread of democracy is a wonderful thing-it is a necessary foundation for peace-and it can happen. But it cannot be advanced by force, and still less by the creation of a new empire, an idea that is as unworkable as it morally mistaken. Empire, the embodiment of force, violates equity on a global scale. No lover of freedom can give it support. It is especially contrary to the founding principles of the United States.
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The spread of democracy is a wonderful thing-it is a necessary foundation for peace-and it can happen. But it cannot be advanced by force, and still less by the creation of a new empire, an idea that is as unworkable as it morally mistaken. Empire, the embodiment of force, violates equity on a global scale. No lover of freedom can give it support. It is especially contrary to the founding principles of the United States.
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#ideas
Reason must sit at the knee of instinct and learn reverence for the miraculous instinctual capacity for creation.
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Reason must sit at the knee of instinct and learn reverence for the miraculous instinctual capacity for creation.
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#knees
It has been said that the United States was deceived into entering and expanding the Vietnam War by its own overoptimistic propaganda. The record suggests, however, that the policy-makers stayed in Vietnam not so much because of overly optimistic hopes of winning ... as because of overly pessimistic assessments of the consequences of losing.
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It has been said that the United States was deceived into entering and expanding the Vietnam War by its own overoptimistic propaganda. The record suggests, however, that the policy-makers stayed in Vietnam not so much because of overly optimistic hopes of winning ... as because of overly pessimistic assessments of the consequences of losing.
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#war
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