--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Israel is not an aviary." description: "\"Israel is not an aviary.\" — Abba Eban" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/abba-eban-20139_israel_israel-is-not-an-aviary-2368077_2368077.jpg" --- # Israel is not an aviary. ![“Israel is not an aviary.” quote by Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/abba-eban-20139_israel_israel-is-not-an-aviary-2368077_2368077.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/abba-eban-20139_israel_israel-is-not-an-aviary-2368077_2368077.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/abba-eban-20139_israel_israel-is-not-an-aviary-2368077_2368077.jpg) > “Israel is not an aviary.” [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The nation cannot be treated as a decorative object; it requires serious responsibility and action. **In simple terms:** A country is not a birdcage; it needs real work. Key Takeaway Treat national issues with substance, not superficiality. Themes responsibility politics national identity Mood serious reflective Type political inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - international relations - public discourse Key Concepts statecraft human dignity Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance symbolism with effective governance? - What responsibilities arise from national pride? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on symbolism can distract from practical solutions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aviary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviary-586895/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Israel Aviary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel-aviary-5822647/) ## Related quotes > [“One might have supposed one’s self at an opera in listening to the voices in my aviary. There were duets and trios, and quartetts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-bulwer-lytton/one-might-have-supposed-one-s-self-at-an-opera-in-listening-to-the/) [Edward Bulwer-Lytton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-bulwer-lytton/) > [“And the scary thing is, I’m on a fast track to that same aviary. Unless I find my wings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/and-the-scary-thing-is-i-m-on-a-fast-track-to-that-same-aviary-unless/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [It occurs to me one evening as I'm feeding the birds that all I did was put two birds in the aviary, some food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wharton/it-occurs-to-me-one-evening-as-i-m-feeding-the-birds-that-all-i-did/) [William Wharton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wharton/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [“Hitler invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Much to the bafflement of the Allies, however, Pope Pius XII said nothing. He refused to condemn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-shahrad/hitler-invaded-poland-on-1-september-1939-much-to-the-bafflement-of/) [Cyrus Shahrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-shahrad/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [In the Green Zone in Iraq you have your radio, you have your food, you have your own electricity, your own toilets. Everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/in-the-green-zone-in-iraq-you-have-your-radio-you-have-your-food-you/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) ## More by Abba Eban > [His ignorance is encyclopedic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/his-ignorance-is-encyclopedic/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [A nation writes its history in the image of its ideal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/a-nation-writes-its-history-in-the-image-of-its-ideal/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/palestinians-never-miss-an-opportunity-to-miss-an-opportunity/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [“History teaches us that men and nations only behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives." --”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/history-teaches-us-that-men-and-nations-only-behave-wisely-once-they/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Time and again these governments have rejected proposals today - and longed for them tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/time-and-again-these-governments-have-rejected-proposals-today-and/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Playing the game I have learned the meaning of humility. It has given me an understanding of futility of the human effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/playing-the-game-i-have-learned-the-meaning-of-humility-it-has-given/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [“If Algeria introduced a resolution that the earth was flat and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/if-algeria-introduced-a-resolution-that-the-earth-was-flat-and-that/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Science is not a sacred cow. Science is a horse. Don’t worship it. Feed it. \[Addressing a group of prospective contributors to an Israeli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/science-is-not-a-sacred-cow-science-is-a-horse-don-t-worship-it-feed/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Tragedy is the difference between what is and what could have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/tragedy-is-the-difference-between-what-is-and-what-could-have-been/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Human beings act intelligently only after they have exhausted the alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/human-beings-act-intelligently-only-after-they-have-exhausted-the/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Consensus is what many people say in chorus but do not believe as individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/consensus-is-what-many-people-say-in-chorus-but-do-not-believe-as/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [You can't achieve anything without getting in someone's way. You can't be detached and effective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/you-can-t-achieve-anything-without-getting-in-someone-s-way-you-can-t/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Lest Arab governments be tempted out of sheer routine to rush into impulsive rejection, let me suggest that tragedy is not what men suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/lest-arab-governments-be-tempted-out-of-sheer-routine-to-rush-into/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [Tragedy is not what men suffer but what they miss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/tragedy-is-not-what-men-suffer-but-what-they-miss/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) > [A consensus means that everyone agrees to say collectively what no one believes individually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/a-consensus-means-that-everyone-agrees-to-say-collectively-what-no/) [Abba Eban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) [Explore all 31 Abba Eban quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/) ## More Israel quotes > [Humanitarian goods and people must flow in both directions. Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/humanitarian-goods-and-people-must-flow-in-both-directions-gaza/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [We could form a government of national unity fighting corruption. The ordinary Afghan is sick and tired of it, because it's she or he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-could-form-a-government-of-national-unity-fighting-corruption-the/) [Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/) > [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [In the Green Zone in Iraq you have your radio, you have your food, you have your own electricity, your own toilets. Everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-colla/in-the-green-zone-in-iraq-you-have-your-radio-you-have-your-food-you/) [Elliott Colla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-colla/) > [ \[Islam\] Leaves no room of human legislation in an Islamic state, because herein all legislative functions vest in God and the only function left… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abul-a-la-maududi/islam-leaves-no-room-of-human-legislation-in-an-islamic-state-because/) [Abul A'la Maududi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abul-a-la-maududi/) > [I hope that the Palestinians don't make the mistake of unleashing a new intifada. They've tried it twice before, and the consequences were bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-segev/i-hope-that-the-palestinians-don-t-make-the-mistake-of-unleashing-a/) [Tom Segev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-segev/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [“Hitler invaded Poland on 1 September 1939. Much to the bafflement of the Allies, however, Pope Pius XII said nothing. He refused to condemn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyrus-shahrad/hitler-invaded-poland-on-1-september-1939-much-to-the-bafflement-of/) [Cyrus Shahrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyrus-shahrad/) > [A strong, responsible Israel can become a stabilizer in such a turbulent region.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ehud-barak/a-strong-responsible-israel-can-become-a-stabilizer-in-such-a/) [Ehud Barak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ehud-barak/) > [Iranians hate Arabs. They're a fairly well-educated population and they have centuries of experience with self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ledeen/iranians-hate-arabs-they-re-a-fairly-well-educated-population-and/) [Michael Ledeen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ledeen/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [I am a peace supporting Jew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/i-am-a-peace-supporting-jew/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [All Germany was in turmoil. Revolutionaries seized power in the cities of Munich, Hanover and Cologne. One regional German government after another was toppled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cross-giblin/all-germany-was-in-turmoil-revolutionaries-seized-power-in-the-cities/) [James Cross Giblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cross-giblin/) [Browse all 16,724 Israel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Israel is not an aviary.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Abba Eban" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/israel-is-not-an-aviary/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Israel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/israel-is-not-an-aviary/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/abba-eban-20139_israel_israel-is-not-an-aviary-2368077_2368077.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/abba-eban-20139_israel_israel-is-not-an-aviary-2368077_2368077.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a23/abba-eban-20139_israel_israel-is-not-an-aviary-2368077_2368077.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Israel is not an aviary.” — Abba Eban", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Abba Eban", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abba-eban/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Israel is not an aviary.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/israel-is-not-an-aviary/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abba-eban/israel-is-not-an-aviary/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```