“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.” Life IsChanceStepsImagineWindArgumentStructureComplexesCome UpAriseDiscussionManifestationImagine ThatImprobableLikelihoodBiologistBoeingAssemblingSingle StepWind BlowingJunkyard Author:John Maynard Smith
“I've always been a fast reader. Now I had to do it slowly, discussing each sentence. And every time I wanted to change something I had to come up with an intelligent defense I could be pretty sure that they would turn my suggestion down, as they had so many aspects to keep in mind. However, if I argued well, I could have a chance. I had to think of every comma, every word.” IfsThinkingMindWellsWantedTurnsChanceReaderAspectIntelligentCome UpSentencesDefenseSuggestionsDiscussing Author:Karl Ove Knausgard
“The first undeniable reality is that every living thing dies, and the second undeniable reality is that we suffer throughout our lives because we don't understand death. The truth derived from these two points is the importance of clarifying the matter of birth and death. The third undeniable reality is that all of the thoughts and feelings that arise in my head simply arise haphazardly, by chance. And the conclusion we can derive from that is not to hold on to all that comes up in our head. That is what we are doing when we sit zazen.” FirstsTwoMatterFeelingsRealityTruthDeathSufferingDiesChanceOur LivesBirthThirdsImportanceCome UpAriseConclusionLiving ThingsThoughts And FeelingsBirth And DeathClarifying Book:Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice Source: Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice
“On movies, I like to involve the cast in the writing of the script. I like to have a rehearsal period, after which I do the last draft, which gives me a chance to incorporate anything the actors have come up with during the rehearsal period, so I'm very inclusive as a writer.” GivingWritingLastsActorsChancePeriodsGive MeScriptsCastsCome UpRehearsalGive Me A Chance Author:John Cleese
“I'm enjoying everything in my life, but I think the element of surprise in show business is what makes us really love it, because one day you're sitting by the phone waiting to do something or not doing anything, and the next day you've got the chance of a lifetime. Those little phone calls don't come up so often, but when they come up, it's fantastic.” ThinkingLittlesShowsNextWaitingEnjoyChanceOne DayElementsSittingSurpriseLifetimePhonesCome UpFantasticNext DayShow BusinessPhone CallsElement Of Surprise Author:Elton John