Quotes About Complexity

A good novel is one that shows the complexity of individuals, and creates enough space for all these characters to have a voice; in this way a novel is called democratic - not that it advocates democracy but that by nature it is so. Empathy lies at the heart of Gatsby, like so many other great novels - the biggest sin is to be blind to others' problems and pains. Not seeing them means denying their existence.

Any single historical event is too complex to be adequately known by anyone. It transcends all the intellectual capacities of men. Our practice is to wait until a sufficient number of details have been forgotten. Of course things seem simpler then! Our memories work that way; we retain the facts which are easiest to think about.

That's why you should always start with this question: What is making this behavior hard to do?

Life cannot be classified in terms of a simple neurological ladder, with human beings at the top; it is more accurate to talk of different forms of intelligence, each with its strengths and weaknesses. This point was well demonstrated in the minutes before last December's tsunami, when tourists grabbed their digital cameras and ran after the ebbing surf, and all the 'dumb' animals made for the hills.

Complex numbers taught me on reasonable philosophy; that you can imagine anything what you don't have in real life.

There are no straight lines in Nature or Shakespeare.

An Act of Parliament is at least as complex as a marriage settlement; and it is made much as a settlement would be if it were left to the vote and settled by the major part of persons concerned, including the unborn children. There is an advocate for every interest, and every interest clamours for every advantage.

Great and terrible systems of divinity and philosophy lie round about us, which, if true, might drive a wise man mad.

A man of business hates elaborate trifling. "If you do not believe your own senses," he will say, "there is no use in my talking to you." As to the multiplicity of arguments and the complexity of questions, he feels them little. He has a plain, simple, as he would say, practical way of looking at the matter; and you will never make him comprehend any other.

It's a joke to think that anyone is one thing. We're all such complex creatures. But if I'm going to be a poster child for anything, anger's a gorgeous emotion. It gets a bad rap, but it can make great changes happen.

I think it's almost impossible for any expert to predict for the rapid changes we see in the Middle East. They are rapid and they will continue for quite a while.

Our healthcare environment is incredibly complex and is changing rapidly.

It's not that I'm playing a rapper. I definitely feel like I'm a legitimate rapper. I just think that, who I am, there's more to me than just being a rapper.

Yeah, if you go too far, like there's some rappers that use words that just be a little too out there, it makes it where someone doesn't really know what you're talking about and don't really have the time to sit and try to understand.

I was rapping in 1939. It's old. The roots are complex. And kids don't know.

It's very rare that people are exactly who they appear to be.

It's rare when you have everything going perfectly all at the same time.

Financial innovation is an oxymoron. It's very rare that there is something that's actually financial innovation. It's a euphemism for hiding leverage.

Inspiration takes many forms, but it's rarely pure.

Human emotion isn't neatly ordered and rational and easily predictable.

I've learned over the years that 'rational discussion' accomplishes almost nothing in politics, particularly with people better educated than average.

We're living in interesting times, where people seem to be able to say things which are contrary to what you would call rationalism.

Rationality is not one of this industry's attributes.

Decisions concerning covert actions are not often easily reached.