The choice, however, is as clear now for nations as it was once for the individual: peace or extinction.

True there has been more talk of peace since 1945 than, I should think, at any other time in history. At least we hear more and read more about it because man's words, for good or ill, can now so easily reach the millions.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.

And I have lived since - as you have - in a period of cold war, during which we have ensured by our achievements in the science and technology of destruction that a third act in this tragedy of war will result in the peace of extinction.

The stark and inescapable fact is that today we cannot defend our society by war since total war is total destruction, and if war is used as an instrument of policy, eventually we will have total war.

And I have lived since - as you have - in a period of cold war, during which we have ensured by our achievements in the science and technology of destruction that a third act in this tragedy of war will result in the peace of extinction.

It has too often been too easy for rulers and governments to incite man to war.

As a soldier, I survived World War I when most of my comrades did not.

The grim fact is that we prepare for war like precocious giants, and for peace like retarded pygmies.