I feel I am privileged to express a hope. The hope is this: that we shall have peace throughout the world, that we shall abolish wars and settle all international differences at the conference table, that we shall abolish all atom and hydrogen bombs before they abolish us. The future of the modern world demands modern thinking. Therefore, let us use the full force of our intelligence instead of obsolete homicidal methods in settling our international differences.

Chaplin’s views on the future of mankind at his 70th birthday, April 16, 1959: “May I take this opportunity to thank those dear friends near and far for their kind and affectionate messages of remembrance and congratulations on my 70th birthday. The 70th year comes as a surprise to me, for I don’t feel a day over 69. Nevertheless, this being my 70th year, I feel I am privileged to express a hope. The hope is this: that we shall have peace throughout the world, that we shall abolish wars and settle all international differences at the conference table, that we shall abolish all atom and hydrogen bombs before they abolish us. The future of the modern world demands modern thinking. Therefore, let us use the full force of our intelligence instead of obsolete homicidal methods in settling our international differences. Thank you very much.” (source RTS archives: “Interview et message de Charlie Chaplin à l’occasion de son 70ème anniversaire”)