This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.
It is grindingly, creakingly, crashingly obvious that, if Darwinism were really a theory of chance, it couldn't work. You don't need to be a mathematician or physicist to calculate that an eye or a haemoglobin molecule would take from here to infinity to self-assemble by sheer higgledy-piggledy luck. Far from being a difficulty peculiar to Darwinism, the astronomic probability of eyes and knees, enzymes and elbow joints and the other living wonders is precisely the problem that any theory of life must solve, and that Darwinism uniquely does solve. It solves it by breaking the improbability up into small, manageable parts, smearing out the luck needed, going round the back of Mount Improbable and crawling up the gentle slopes, inch by million-year inch.
Richard Feynman, fully Richard Phillips Feynman
We are only at the beginning of the development of the human race; of the development of the human mind, of intelligent life--we have years and years in the future. It is our responsibility not to give the answer today as to what it is all about, to drive everybody down in that direction and to say: This is a solution to it all. Because we will be chained then to the limits of our present imagination. We will only be able to do those things that we think today are the things to do. Whereas, if we leave always some room for doubt, some room for discussion, and proceed in a way analogous to the sciences, then this difficulty will not arise.
Beginning | Difficulty | Present | Responsibility | Will | Think |
Richard Feynman, fully Richard Phillips Feynman
Now we are in a position in physics that is different from any other time in history (it's always different!). We have a theory ... so why can't we test the theory right away to see if it's right or wrong? Because what we have to do is calculate the consequences of the theory to test it. This time, the difficulty is this first step.
Consequences | Difficulty | History | Position | Right | Time |
Richard Feynman, fully Richard Phillips Feynman
We always had a great deal of difficulty in understanding the world view that quantum mechanics represents. At least I do, because I'm an old enough man that I haven't got to the point that this stuff is obvious to me ... It has not yet become obvious to me that there is no real problem. I cannot define the real problem, therefore I suspect there is no real problem, but I'm not sure there is no real problem.
Difficulty | Enough | Man | Understanding | World | Old |
Divers of Hermetic Books have such involv'd Obscuritys that they may justly be compar'd to Riddles written in Cyphers. For after a Man has surmounted the difficulty of decyphering the Words & Terms, he finds a new & greater difficulty to discover ye meaning of the seemingly plain Expression.
Books | Difficulty | Man | Meaning | Words |
Robert Bork, fully Robert Heron Bork
Americans revere both the Constitution and an independent Court that applies the document's provisions. The Court has done many excellent things in our history, and few people are willing to see its power broken. The difficulty with all proposals to respond to the Court when it behaves unconstitutionally is that they would create a power to destroy the Court's essential work as well.
Destroy | Difficulty | People | Power | Work |
Simcha Bunam, fully Rabbi Simcha Bunim Bonhart of Peshischa or Pshis'cha
The slightest [sense of] depression is clothed in pride.
Sen T’Sen, aka Seng T'San, Jianzhi Sengcan, Kanchi Sosan, Third Chinese Patriarch of Zen
The Perfect Way is only difficult for those who pick and choose; do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hairbreadth difference, and Heaven and Earth are set apart
Difficulty | Will |
Roy L. Smith, aka Mr. Methodist
The man who cannot believe in himself cannot believe in anything else. The basis of all integrity and character is whatever faith we have in our own integrity.
Ability | Difficulty | World |
Each time it is different.
Circumstances | Danger | Difficulty | Man | Means | Will | Danger |
There is no example for an unjust court.
Difficulty | Evil | Expectation | Hope | Improvement | Misfortune | Misfortune | Trouble | Expectation |
I’d like to be remembered as one who kept my priorities in the right order. We live in a changing world, but we need to be reminded that the important things have not changed. I have always encouraged my restaurant Operators and team members to give back to the local community. We should be about more than just selling chicken; we should be a part of our customer’s lives and the communities in which we serve.
Difficulty | Inferiority | Words | Work |
Rutherford B. Hayes, fully Rutherford Birchard Hayes
The sacred obligation to the Union soldiers must not — will not be forgotten nor neglected.... But those who fought against the Nation cannot and do not look to it for relief.... Confederate soldiers and their descendants are to share with us and our descendants the destiny of America. Whatever, therefore, we their fellow citizens can do to remove burdens from their shoulders and to brighten their lives is surely in the pathway of humanity and patriotism.
Control | Difficulty | Government | Men | Need | People | Power | Wealth | Government |
Rutherford B. Hayes, fully Rutherford Birchard Hayes
Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office-seeking. Men of good character and impulses are betrayed by it into all sorts of meanness.
Difficulty | Heart | Trouble |
Saint Jerome, aka Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymous, Hierom or Jerom NULL
Act as if the maxim of your action were to become through your will a be general natural law.
Difficulty | Friend |
Saint Augustine, aka Augustine of Hippo, St. Austin, Bishop of Hippo NULL
You wish to be great, begin from the least. You are thinking to construct some mighty fabric in height; first think of the foundation of humility. And how great soever a mass of building one may wish and design to place above it, the greater the building is to be, the deeper does he dig his foundation.
John Chrysostom, fully Saint John Chrysostom
I would like to have a voice strong enough to make myself heard from the four corners of the world. I would climb the ugliest mountain in the universe and I would cry out to all men, save, save your soul!
Difficulty | Soul |
John Chrysostom, fully Saint John Chrysostom
Now if we are willing to examine the Scriptures in this way, carefully and systematically, we shall be able to obtain our salvation. If we unceasingly are preoccupied with them, we shall learn both correctness of doctrine and an upright way of life.
Deeds | Defense | Difficulty | God | Life | Life | Perception | Pleasure | Present | Reason | Regard | Time | Waste | Will | Words | Deeds | Loss | God | Learn |
You see, Monsieur, you and I allow ourselves to be carried away too much by our own opinions. You, however, are in a place where an exceptional reserve and circumspection are necessary. I have always heard that the Italians are the most cautious people in the world and the most distrustful of individuals who act too quickly. Caution, patience, and gentleness resolve everything with them, in time. Because they know that we French act too quickly, they leave us out in the cold for a long time without making friends with us. In the name of God, Monsieur, be careful about this and about never disregarding the orders you receive from us.
Difficulty | Experience | Life | Life | Nothing |