Time and again these governments have rejected proposals today - and longed for them tomorrow. Abba Eban More Quotes by Abba Eban More Quotes From Abba Eban Our intention to regard the closing of the Straits as a casus belli was communicated...to the foreign ministers of those states which had supported international navigation in the Straits in 1957 and thereafter. There can be no doubt that these warnings reached Cairo. One thing was now clear. If Nasser imposed a blockade, the explosion would ensue not from 'miscalculation', but from an open-eyed and conscious readiness for war. Abba Eban cairodoubtwar 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 rejectionmissingmen Tragedy is not what men suffer but what they miss. Abba Eban sufferingmissingmen Salvation, the prophets tell us, is preconditioned by repentance. The redeeming act of God waits upon man's initiative. Abba Eban initiativewaitingmen A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement. Abba Eban elegancemovementears Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals. Abba Eban beliefbelievepeople History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely when they have exhausted all other alternatives. Abba Eban He has a splendid repertoire of 500 words. Why does he insist on using only 150? Abba Eban Men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all the other alternatives. Abba Eban
