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Herman Kahn Biography

Herman Kahn (February 15, 1922 – July 7, 1983) was a founder of the Hudson Institute and one of the preeminent futurists of the latter part of the twentieth century. He originally came to prominence as a military strategist and systems theorist while employed at the RAND Corporation. He became known for analyzing the likely consequences of nuclear war and recommending ways to improve survivability, making him one of three historical inspirations for the title character of Stanley Kubrick's classic black comedy film satire Dr. Strangelove.

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Herman Kahn Quotes

A healthy and fully functioning society must allocate its resources among a variety of competing interests, all of which are more or less valid but none of which should take precedence over national security.

Functioning, Healthy, National, Resources, Should, Variety

Deterrence itself is not a preeminent value; the primary values are safety and morality.

Morality, Preeminent, Primaries, Primary, Safety, Value

I'm against ignorance. I'm against sloppy, emotional thinking. I'm against fashionable thinking. I am against the whole cliché of the moment.

Cliche, Emotional, Fashionable, Ignorance, Moment, Thinking

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.

Defense, Grave, Mean, Refuse, Used, Views

Many people believe that the current system must inevitably end in total annihilation. They reject, sometimes very emotionally, any attempts to analyze this notion.

Analyze, Believe, Emotionally, People, Sometimes

I'm against fashionable thinking.

Against, Fashionable, Thinking

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.

Defense, Military, Place, Social, Thinking, Welfare Programs

Anything that reduces war-related destruction should not be considered altogether immoral.

Considered, Destruction, Immoral, Reduces, Should, War

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.

Criteria, Decision, Issues, National, Technology

From a scientific perspective there is some indication that a nuclear war could deplete the earth's ozone layer or, less likely, could bring on a new Ice Age - but there is no suggestion that either the created order or mankind would be destroyed in the process.

Created, Likely, Order, Ozone, Process, War

A total nuclear freeze is counterproductive - especially now, when technology is rapidly changing and the Soviets have some important strategic advantages.

Freeze, Important, Nuclear, Rapidly, Technology, Total

In a world which is armed to its teeth with nuclear weapons, every quarrel or difference of opinion may lead to violence of a kind quite different from what is possible today.

Difference, Differences, Different, Opinion, Teeth

Human and moral factors must always be considered. They must never be missing from policies and from public discussion.

Discussion, Factors, Missing You, Moral, Policies, Policy

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.

Accepting, Actually, Correct, Nations, Nuclear, Situation

World War I broke out largely because of an arms race, and World War II because of the lack of an arms race.

Lack, Largely, Race, War, World

Authority is not power; that's coercion. Authority is not knowledge; that's persuasion, or seduction. Authority is simply that the author has the right to make a statement and to be heard.

Coercion, Knowledge, Persuasion, Seduction, Simply

Risk-taking is the essence of innovation.

Essence, Innovation, Risk

I'm against ignorance.

Against, Ignorance

Projecting a persuasive image of a desirable and practical future is extremely important to high morale, to dynamism, to consensus, and in general to help the wheels of society turn smoothly.

Desirable, General, Helping, Important, Morale, Wheels

A surprising number of government committees will make important decisions on fundamental matters with less attention than each individual would give to buying a suit.

Giving, Government, Matters, Number, Numbers, Surprising

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