Linus Pauling — "If there were nobody in the world but politicians, I would feel that there was n…"
If there were nobody in the world but politicians, I would feel that there was no hope for mankind, no hope for civilization, no hope for the world.
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More from Linus Pauling
"I have never had a bad idea."
"I believe that there is no such thing as an 'unimportant' discovery."
"I believe that the human spirit is indomitable, and that we can overcome any challenge if we set our minds to it."
"I have always been interested in the nature of things, and especially in the nature of life."
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance."
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Understanding this quote
What it means
Politicians alone cannot save humanity. Without scientists, artists, educators, doctors, and ordinary citizens working toward truth and human welfare, civilization has no foundation. Progress depends on people driven by knowledge and ethics rather than power and compromise. Society needs people who pursue what is true and good, not merely what is expedient or politically advantageous.
Relevance to Linus Pauling
Pauling won Nobel Prizes in both Chemistry and Peace — a unique double that reflected his conviction that scientific truth and moral courage must guide civilization. He fought McCarthyism personally, having his passport revoked for anti-nuclear activism. He saw politicians obstruct nuclear test ban treaties for years despite clear scientific evidence of harm, deepening his distrust of political systems unchecked by science.
The era
Pauling spoke during the Cold War nuclear arms race, when politicians in Washington and Moscow held civilization's fate in their hands. The period saw McCarthyite persecution of scientists, congressional hearings dismissing expert testimony, and both superpowers expanding nuclear arsenals despite mounting evidence of radiation dangers. Scientists like Pauling felt increasingly sidelined by political calculation overriding scientific consensus on existential threats.
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