“In some sort of crude sense which no vulgarity, no humor, no overstatement can quite extinguish, the physicists have known sin and this is a knowledge which they cannot lose”
— Robert Oppenheimer
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Simplified Meaning:
Physicists, or scientists who study physical phenomena, sometimes discover things that can be very powerful and dangerous, like nuclear energy. Once they've learned how to create such power, this knowledge can't be forgotten or undone. For instance, when scientists developed the atomic bomb during World War II, they realized the immense destruction it could cause. This kind of knowledge changes their understanding of right and wrong because they know their creations can harm people. Even if we try to joke about it or downplay it, the serious responsibility that comes with their knowledge remains. Understanding this helps people realize that some discoveries, while amazing, come with heavy moral choices.
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