"History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives"

Abba Eban’s observation wryly suggests that wisdom is often the final destination at the end of a long road of mistakes and misjudgments. Instead of acting prudently from the outset, individuals and nations tend to pursue a series of poor options before ultimately settling on a wise course of action. This pattern echoes throughout the annals of history, where avoidable conflicts, failed policies, and missed opportunities litter the path to eventual enlightenment and better decision-making.

The phrase draws attention to a recurring human flaw: the reluctance to make difficult but necessary choices before trying easier, less effective alternatives. Nations avoid compromise until war becomes unendurable; leaders postpone reforms until crises force their hands; individuals choose shortcuts that lead to setbacks before accepting the right course requires effort or sacrifice. Real wisdom, Eban suggests with a touch of cynicism, does not arise from foresight or virtue but rather as a last resort, when all other options have been shown to fail. The implication is both humorous and sobering. While humans are capable of great learning and adaptation, our nature often compels us to test every failing path before embracing the one that genuinely offers progress or resolution.

Examples abound, from the long resistance to social reforms that eventually become moral imperatives, to international disputes resolved only after years of fruitless conflict. The diplomatic histories of many countries reveal cycles of stubbornness and delay, followed by sudden shifts to rationality only when other avenues collapse. Still, the quote offers a glimmer of hope: wisdom does ultimately prevail, even if it arrives late. Our capacity for learning from mistakes, though inefficient, eventually guides us to better choices. Eban’s insight, both critical and optimistic, serves as a reminder to heed the lessons of past folly and to strive for wisdom before desperation leaves us no alternative.