Abba Eban Quotes, born Aubrey Solomon Meir Eban in Cape Town, South Africa, was an Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar whose oratorical brilliance shaped Israel’s early diplomacy. Serving as Israel’s Foreign Minister (1966–1974), ambassador to the United States, and first Permanent Representative to the United Nations, he was a key figure in securing UN Resolution 181 for Palestine’s partition. A Cambridge-educated linguist fluent in Arabic and Hebrew, Eban authored books like My People and Diplomacy for the Next Century.
These 15 quotes—sourced from his speeches, writings, and interviews—reflect his insights on wisdom, peace, justice, and the challenges of diplomacy, capturing his profound, eloquent spirit.
15 Abba Eban Quotes
- “History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “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.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “The Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” (The Jerusalem Post, 2002)
- “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.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “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.” (New York Times, 1975)
- “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.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “The Jews are the living embodiment of the minority, the constant reminder of what duties societies owe their minorities, whoever they might be.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “Nobody does Israel any service by proclaiming its ‘right to exist.’ Israel’s right to exist, like that of the United States, Saudi Arabia and 152 other states, is axiomatic and unreserved.” (New York Times, 1981)
- “His ignorance is encyclopedic.” (Goodreads, n.d.)
- “It is our experience that political leaders do not always mean the opposite of what they say.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
- “You can’t achieve anything without getting in someone’s way.” (Quote.org, n.d.)
- “Better to be disliked than pitied.” (AZQuotes, n.d.)
- “Time and again these governments have rejected proposals today—and longed for them tomorrow.” (BrainyQuote, n.d.)
Abba Eban’s quotes gleam with sharp wit, diplomatic wisdom, and a call to pursue peace through understanding, inspiring us to think critically, act justly, and seize opportunities for progress. His eloquent voice, praised in posts found on X for its enduring relevance, reflects a statesman who navigated global tensions with clarity and hope. From UN halls to Israel’s foreign policy, his words urge us to learn from history’s lessons. Which quote stirs your passion for wisdom or justice? Share it in the comments and keep Eban’s visionary legacy thriving
Emma Thompson
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