#robert jungk

[cinematic-literature]

L'amica geniale S02E04 (Il bacio)

Book title: Hiroshima, il giorno dopo (Strahlen aus der Asche. Geschichte einer Wiedergeburt in German; 1959) by Robert Jungk

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Perhaps Oppenheimer's mental distress and failure to meet the situation are nowhere so apparent as in the following passages from his dialogues with Robb:

Robb: Did you oppose the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima because of moral scruples?

Oppenheimer: We set forth our—

Robb: I am asking you about 'I', not 'we'.

Oppenheimer: I set forth my anxieties and the arguments on the other side.

Robb: You mean you argued against dropping the bomb?

Oppenheimer: I set forth arguments against dropping it.

Robb: Dropping the atom bomb?

Oppenheimer: Yes, but I did not endorse them.

Robb: You mean, having worked as you put it, in your answer, rather excellently, by night and day for three or four years to develop the atom bomb, you then argued it should not be used?

Oppenheimer: No. I didn't argue that it should not be used. I was asked to say by the Secretary of War what the views of scientists were. I gave the views against and the views for.

Robb: But you supported the dropping of the bomb on Japan, didn't you?

Oppenheimer: What do you mean, support?

Robb: You helped pick the target, didn't you?

Oppenheimer: I did my job, which was the job I was supposed to do. I was not in a policy-making position at Los Alamos. I would have done anything that I was asked to do, including making the bombs a different shape, if I had thought it was technically feasible.

Robb: You would have made the thermonuclear weapon, too, wouldn't you?

Oppenheimer: I couldn't.

Robb: I didn't ask you that, Doctor.

Oppenheimer: I would have worked on it.

Robb: If you had discovered the thermonuclear weapon at Los Alamos, you would have done so. If you could have discovered it you would have done so, wouldn't you?

Oppenheimer: Oh, yes.

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh

[tenth-sentence]

The questions of conscience with which almost every nuclear physicist had confronted himself since the end of the war have found no acknowledged and binding answers even until today.

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh

[jedentageinzitat]

Die Welt kann verändert werden. Zukunft ist kein Schicksal.

Robert Jungk

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Teller often used to translate into German verses by the Hungarian poet Ady, a great favourite of his. One of these translations, which were never published, seems full of the presentiment of an existence which Teller and other research workers in atomic physics were fated to lead.

The Lord takes all whom he strikes and loves,

he bears them far from Earth . . .

their hearts aflame, their brains made ice,

Earth sends her laughter up to them

and, compassionate, the sun strews diamond dust

upon their lonely way.

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh

[tenth-sentence]

It is not clear whether he regards Teller as a good or a bad angel.

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh

[tenth-sentence]

The visitor found, to his astonishment, that Strauss was not alone.

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh

[tenth-sentence]

Unlike most other nuclear physicists, who had returned to their specialized pursuits after the failure of their attempts to help to mould the ideas of their countrymen, Oppenheimer continued his efforts in that direction.

"Brighter than a Thousand Suns: A Personal History of the Atomic Scientists" - Robert Jungk, translated by James Cleugh