Playing the game I have learned the meaning of humility. It has given me an understanding of futility of the human effort.
Abba EbanRead
It is our experience that political leaders do not always mean the opposite of what they say.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Political leaders may sometimes be sincere in their statements, rather than consistently deceptive.
Abba Eban's quote highlights the complexity of political communication, suggesting that while skepticism towards politicians is common, it is a misconception to assume that they always intend to deceive. Instead, it is crucial to assess their words with a nuanced perspective, recognizing that honesty can coexist with political rhetoric.
Themes
PoliticsLeadershipCommunicationHonestyDeception
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate to highlight the importance of scrutinizing candidate statements.
More from Abba Eban
All quotes βTragedy is not what men suffer but what they miss.
Abba EbanRead
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. Israel's legitimacy is not suspended in midair awaiting acknowledgement.... There is certainly no other state, big or small, young or old, that would consider mere recognition of its 'right to exist' a favor, or a negotiable concession.
Abba EbanRead
A nation writes its history in the image of its ideal.
Abba EbanRead
A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement.
Abba EbanRead
Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals.
Abba EbanRead
Similar quotes
A political convention is after all not a meeting of a corporation's board of directors; it is a fiesta, a carnival, a pig-rooting, horse-snorting, band-playing, voice-screaming medieval get-together of greed, practical lust, compromised idealism, career-advancement, meeting, feud, vendetta, conciliation, of rabble-rousers, fist fights (as it used to be), embraces, drunks (again as it used to be) and collective rivers of animal sweat.
Norman MailerRead
Broadly speaking, the Southern and Western desert and mountain states will vote for the candidate who endorses an aggressive military, a role for religion in public life, laissez-faire economic policies, private ownership of guns and relaxed conditions for using them, less regulation and taxation, and a valorization of the traditional family.
Steven PinkerRead
There's lots about politics I don't feel comfortable with. To talk about the politics of future ideas is impossible in soundbite form.
Al GoreRead
Dishonesty in government is the business of every citizen. It is not enough to do your own job. There's no particular virtue in that. Democracy isn't a gift. It's a responsibility.
Dalton TrumboRead
The U.S. is the last country that should see itself as an ally of the apartheid system.
Oliver TamboRead
What is most troubling about Mr. Putin's aggression in Crimea is that it reflects a growing disregard for America's credibility in the world. That has emboldened other aggressive actors - from Chinese nationalists to Al Qaeda terrorists and Iranian theocrats.
John MccainRead