Alluding to the injury that radium inflicted when held close to the body, Pierre conceded the element might “become very dangerous in criminal hands.” He raised the question as to “whether mankind benefits from knowing the secrets of Nature.” In answer, Pierre invoked Alfred Nobel’s powerful explosives, which had facilitated both “wonderful work” and “also a terrible means of destruction.” “I am one of those who believe with Nobel,” Pierre said in closing, “that mankind will derive more good than harm from the new discoveries.”
