Linus Pauling. "Let Us Reason Together." 11 January 1958
We must find an alternative to the monstrous immorality of war - war that now would be suicidal, would mean the end of civilization.
I believe that there is an alternative: it is to settle the great world problems by use of man's reason, by introducing morality and justice as the principal factors in the conduct of international relations and the solution of world problems.
Why not start now? Can we not begin by reaching an effective international agreement to stop the testing of nuclear weapons, hydrogen bombs?
I believe that we can reach such an agreement - an agreement that is safe, that benefits all nations and all people equally, not one nation or group of nations preferentially. The details would have to be worked out by experts, through careful negotiation.
I know that thousands of my fellow scientists, in many countries, agree with me in this belief.
Lord Boyd Orr, Mr. Pearson: Do you not also agree? Should not the nations of the world at once take this first step, begin in this way to reason together?
Why not substitute reason for weapons? Why not start now?
January
11, 1958
