Abba Eban

History teaches us that men, nations, and the world behave wisely when they exhaust all other options.

Abba Eban (1915–2002) was a renowned Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar who became globally recognized as the “Voice of Israel.” He was celebrated for his exceptional oratory skills and his pivotal role in shaping Israel’s international standing during its first three decades.

I find this quote quite interesting and compelling, given what we see going on in the Middle East and the role of Israel. I’m not using this to debate the history or founding of the nation and the geopolitical decisions around that. I’m simply calling out some wise words from a renowned diplomat to a country that does not seem to be living up to this standard. Eban was a man who spent his life trying to create those “other options” through rhetoric and diplomacy.

This also does not apply just to one nation, but all nations, as a good guide to follow, and it does not seem much of the world is heeding this advice. Is any nation behaving wisely? Nations are highly intelligent (technologically, militarily), but Eban is talking about wisdom, the restraint to avoid the cliff before being pushed toward it.

Is the world becoming wiser, or are we just getting faster at running through our other options?