Abba Eban

1915–2002 · Israeli diplomat, Foreign Minister & orator

Abba Eban was an Israeli diplomat, politician, and celebrated orator who served as Israel’s Foreign Minister and ambassador to the United States and the United Nations. Renowned for his eloquence, he is the earliest figure Quote Investigator documents using the “behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives” formulation — the seed of the saying later misattributed to Churchill.

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“Americans will always do the right thing, after exhausting all the alternatives”

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