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
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.
In practice
In a political debate to highlight the importance of scrutinizing candidate statements.
Playing the game I have learned the meaning of humility. It has given me an understanding of futility of the human effort.
Tragedy is not what men suffer but what they miss.
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.
A nation writes its history in the image of its ideal.
A statesman who keeps his ear permanently glued to the ground will have neither elegance of posture nor flexibility of movement.
Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals.
You do not examine legislation in the light of the benefits it will convey if properly administered, but in the light of the wrongs it would do and the harms it would cause if improperly administered.
These examples, though as unfit for the imitation, as they are repugnant to the genius of America, are notwithstanding . . . very instructive proofs of the necessity of some institution that will blend stability with liberty.
What stuns me most about contemporary politics is not even that the system has been so badly corrupted by money. It is that so few people get the connection between their lives and what the bozos do in Washington and our state capitols.
The American people abhor a vacuum.
I get asked a lot about getting into politics. I say, 'Take a look at politics. You tell me what seems appealing about that.'
Just because you are not interested in politics, does not mean that politics is not interested in you.
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