If the radiance of a thousand sunsWere to burst at once into the skyThat would be like the splendor of the Mighty one --I am become Death,The shatterer of Worlds.

Summary

This quote, often attributed to J. Robert Oppenheimer, reflects the profound impact of the development of the atomic bomb during the context of the Manhattan Project. It illustrates the awe-inspiring power and destructive capability of this groundbreaking weapon, comparing it to the radiance of a thousand suns. Oppenheimer, tormented by the potential consequences of his creation, uses the phrase "I am become Death, the shatterer of Worlds" to convey the profound responsibility and anguish he felt as one of the key figures behind the atomic bomb's birth. It highlights the complex moral and ethical implications of scientific progress and the potential devastation it can bring.

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