Our world doesn’t have lives to waste in war.
No life is surpluse. No life is collateral.

Our world doesn’t have time to waste on war.
We have too little time and every moment matters.

Our world doesn’t have land to waste on war.
We need a healthy planet – not one that’s shattered.
-Karen Molenaar Terrell

“They have attained to thermonuclear power, have they?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Well, that’s the criterion.” Naro chuckled, “And soon their ships will probe out and contact the Federation.”

“Actually, Great One,” said the messenger, reluctantly, “the Observers tell us they have not yet penetrated space.”

Naron was astonished. “Not at all? Not even a space station?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“But if they have thermonuclear power, where then do they conduct their tests and detonations?”

“On their own planet, sir.”

Naron rose to his full twenty feet of height and thundered, “On their own planet?”

“Yes, sir.”

Slowly, Naron drew out his stylus and passed a line through the latest addition in the smaller book. It was an unprecedented act, but, then, Naron was very wise and could see the inevitable as well as anyone in the Galaxy.

– Isaac Asimov, 15 Short Stories