Abba Eban Quotes
Born: February 2, 1915
Abba Eban, an Israeli diplomat and orator of unparalleled eloquence, masterfully bridged the gap between visionary leadership and pragmatic innovation. His philosophy, rooted in the belief that language itself is a tool of creation, resonates deeply with the tech world: he argued that ideas, like nations, are built not by force but by articulation. Eban’s legacy as a statesman who shaped a nation from a concept—transforming scarcity into abundance—mirrors the modern innovator’s journey. His quotes inspire because they remind us that the most radical breakthroughs begin with a precise, persuasive word, turning the impossible into the inevitable.
Abba Eban Quotes (15)
"Men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all the other alternatives."
— Abba Eban"A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually."
— Abba Eban"If Algeria introduced a resolution declaring that the earth was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164 to 13 with 26 abstentions."
— Abba Eban"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives."
— Abba Eban"I think that this is the first war in history that on the morrow the victors sued for peace and the vanquished called for unconditional surrender."
— Abba Eban"Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals."
— Abba Eban"It is our experience that political leaders do not always mean the opposite of what they say."
— Abba Eban"A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement."
— Abba Eban"The Jews are the living embodiment of the minority, the constant reminder of what duties societies owe their minorities, whoever they might be."
— Abba Eban"One of the chief tasks of any dialogue with the Gentile world is to prove that the distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism is not a distinction at all."
— Abba Eban"Lest Arab governments be tempted out of sheer routine to rush into impulsive rejection, let me suggest that tragedy is not what men suffer but what they miss."
— Abba Eban"Time and again these governments have rejected proposals today - and longed for them tomorrow."
— Abba Eban"You can't achieve anything without getting in someone's way."
— Abba Eban