Abba Eban Quotes

The truth is that the right decision often can't be led with either head or heart exclusively.

If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.

Emotion is the foundation of reason.

Reason sits firm and holds the reins, and she will not let the feelings burst away and hurry her to wild chasms. The passions may rage furiously, like true heathens, as they are; and the desires may imagine all sorts of vain things: but judgment shall still have the last word in every argument, and the casting vote in every decision. Strong wind, earthquake-shock, and fire may pass by: but I shall follow the guiding of that still small voice which interprets the dictates of conscience.

In all human affairs, the wisest course is to be passionate about the role of reason and reasonable about the role of passion.

Reason and emotion counsel and supplement each other. Whoever heeds only the one, and puts aside the other, recklessly deprives himself of a portion of the aid granted us for the regulation of our conduct.

For Reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and Passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

Reason is the first victim of strong emotion.

Don't let your emotions overpower your intelligence.

Emotions are the curse of logic.

The most formidable weapon against errors of every kind is reason.

My intellect has always been more responsible than my emotions for how I respond to the world.

Opinion is ultimately determined by the feelings, and not by the intellect.

The seat of knowledge is in the head; of wisdom, in the heart. We are sure to judge wrong, if we do not feel right.

I think there is only one quality worse than hardness of heart and that is softness of head.

Intellect distinguishes between the possible and the impossible; reason distinguishes between the sensible and the senseless. Even the possible can be senseless.

Reason is a harmonising, controlling force rather than a creative one.

There is a wisdom of the head, and a wisdom of the heart.

Reason is the historian, but passions are the actors.

Keep your temper. A decision made in anger is never sound.

Men are rather reasoning than reasonable animals, for the most part governed by the impulse of passion.

Reason commands us far more imperiously than a master; for in disobeying the one we are unfortunate, and in disobeying the other we are fools.

It is reason, and not passion, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.

Emotion is always the enemy of wise statesmanship.