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Chance Quotes

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Chance Quotes

“In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary point and take details for granted: two trivialities omitted can add up to an impasse). The unpractised writer, even after the dawn of a conscience, gives him no such chance; before he can spot the point he has to tease his way through a maze of symbols of which not the tiniest suffix can be skipped.”

“This argument [that life is too improbable to have arisen by chance] comes up repeatedly: its latest manifestation is Hoyle's discussion of the likelihood of a wind blowing through a junkyard assembling a Boeing 707 [sic]. What is wrong with it? Essentially, it is that no biologist imagines that complex structures arise in a single step.”

“If our eloquence be directed above the heads of our hearers, we shall do no execution. By pointing our arguments low, we stand a chance of hitting their hearts as well as their heads. In addressing angels, we could hardly raise our eloquence too high; but we must remember that men are not angels.”

Ifs Men Wells Heart Remember Chance Lows Angel Argument Raises Execution Hitting Pointing Eloquence Oratory

Book:Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think

Source: Lacon: Or Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think

“Like all born politicians, their eye was for the main chance rather than for the argument, and they found it easier to forswear a conviction than to forego a comfort.”

Eye Found Born Chance Politician Easier Comfort Argument Conviction

Book:The Old Dominion Edition of the Works of Ellen Glasgow: The Miller of Old Church

Source: The Old Dominion Edition of the Works of Ellen Glasgow: The Miller of Old Church

“I don't think that split government is a good idea. Conventional wisdom in Washington for years has been that divided government is good because of a check and a balance. What I believe happens all too often, regardless of which party is there's gridlock. And I think the better argument is give one party a chance, give them a chance with a House and a Senate and a president. Give them a few years to see what they can do. And if you don't like it, put another party in.”

“I always get everyone prepared so there aren't so many arguments on set. I have a policy that the first thing I do in the morning is go over to the trailers and discuss exactly what we're shooting that day. It's time-consuming but it reduces the chances of 'misunderstandings' on set.”

Firsts Chance Morning Policy Argument Prepared Shooting Misunderstanding Consuming Trailers Time Consuming

Author:Tony Scott

“I really do believe that chance favours a prepared mind. Wallace Stegner, who was one of my teachers when I was at Stanford, preached that writing a novel is not something that can be done in a sprint. That it's a marathon. You have to pace yourself. He himself wrote two pages every day and gave himself a day off at Christmas. His argument was at the end of a year, no matter what, you'd got 700 pages and that there's got to be something worth keeping.”

Writing Years Mind Believe Two Ends Matter Done Chance Novel Teacher Pages Argument No Matter What Prepared Pace Favour Marathon Days Off Sprint Stanford Pace Yourself

Author:Scott Turow