A biography for Herman Kahnhasn’t been written yet.
“It is immoral from almost any point of view to refuse to defend yourself and others from very grave and terrible threats, even as there are limits to the means that can be used in such defense.”
“Anything that reduces war-related destruction should not be considered altogether immoral.”
“World War I broke out largely because of an arms race, and World War II because of the lack of an arms race.”
“I am against the whole cliche of the moment.”
“Hopefully, nations will refuse to accept a situation in which nuclear accidents actually do occur, and, if at all possible, they will do something to correct a system which makes them likely.”
“Human and moral factors must always be considered. They must never be missing from policies and from public discussion.”
“Only those who are ideologically opposed to military programs think of the defense budget as the first and best place to get resources for social welfare needs.”
“There was no race - but to the extent that there was an arms competition, it was almost entirely on the Soviet side, first to catch up and then to surpass the Americans.”
“The widespread diffusion of nuclear weapons would make many nations able, and in some cases also create the pressure, to aggravate an on-going crisis, or even touch off a war between two other powers for purposes of their own.”
“I'm against fashionable thinking.”
“Because of new technologies, new wealth, new conditions of domestic life and of international relations, unprecedented criteria and issues are coming up for national decision.”