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

April 20, 2025
The secret of the demagogue is to make himself as stupid as his audience so that they believe they are as clever as he.
May 7, 2025
The two greatest obstacles to democracy in the United States are, first, the widespread delusion among the poor
December 3, 2025
Healey’s first law of politics: when you are in a hole, stop digging.
Page 41 of 122