Quotes Library

March 25, 2025

History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.

Abba Eban (1915–2002), Israeli diplomat and politician, speech in London, 16 December 1970, Jay p.127

Can you think of an instance where you wasted a lot of time considering, promoting, or pursuing an alternative when the wisest solution was staring you in the face? Why were you blind to it?

So wisdom is the default position? That’s a consolation, until one realizes the legion of wrong alternatives yet to be exhausted in so many cases.


More Quotes

March 12, 2025
00:33
Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.
April 3, 2025
The Press, my Lords, is one of our great out-sentries; if we remove it, if we hoodwink it
January 27, 2025
[On hearing Lady Mountbatten’s anti-monarchical views] How easy it seems for a semi-royal millionnairess, who has exhausted all the pleasures of money and position, to turn almost Communist!
Page 116 of 122