A E Housman - Damon Runyan - Tom Stoppard - Terry Pratchett - How the Universe Works TV - Tommy Cooper - Masterminds: A Day at the Races TV - The Sopranos TV - the Hustler 1961 - Hall of Fame: Never Say Never TV - William Shakespeare - Arnold Palmer - Tennessee Williams -
And how am I to face the odds,
Of man’s bedevilment and God’s?
I, a stranger and afraid
In a world I never made. A E Housman, Last Poems, 1922
I long ago came to the conclusion that all life is 6 to 5 against. Damon Runyan
Life is a gamble at terrible odds – if it was a bet, you wouldn’t take it. Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, 1967
Scientists have calculated that the chances of something so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one.
But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten. Terry Pratchett, Mort
For Earth to even exist it had to overcome astronomic odds. How the Universe Works s2e8: Birth of the Earth, Science 2012
I backed a horse today at twenty to one. He came in twenty past four. Tommy Cooper
On Breeders’ Cup day 2002 one lucky better beat the odds and became the only winner of the Pick 6 Multi-Million Dollar Jackpot. Masterminds: A Day at the Races, History 2004
Mastermind Chris Harn had found a way to turn a 1,000,000 to 1 longshot into a $3,000,000 sure thing. ibid.
I’m rich! Five grand at eight to one. The Sopranos s4e5: Pie-O-My starring James Gandolfini & Lorriane Bracco & Edie Falco & Michael Imperioli & Dominic Chianese & Steven van Zandt & Tony Sirico & Robert Iler et al, Ralph at races, HBO 1999
I don’t make bad bets; seven-five twenty-five that’s it. The Hustler 1961 starring Paul Newman & Jackie Gleason & Piper Laurie & George C Scott & Myron McCormick & Murray Hamilton & Michael Constantine & Stefan Gierasch & Clifford Pellow & Jake LaMotta & Gordon B Clarke et al, director Robert Rossen, Shark to Fast Eddie
The Lottery only pays back 45% of the money it takes in, far far worse than any casino game. David Spiegelhalter, Tails You Win: The Science of Chance, BBC 2012
‘We were 50/1.’ Hall of Fame: Never Say Never, Imran Khan
It never yet did hurt
To lay down likelihoods and forms of hope. William Shakespeare, II Henry IV (II) I iii 34-35, Hastings
Against ill chances men are ever merry,
But heaviness foreruns the good event. William Shakespeare, Henry IV part II ii 81, Archbishop
There is diversity in odd numbers, either in nativity, chance or death. William Shakespeare, The Merry Wives of Windsor V i 3
Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against me. Arnold Palmer
Stanley (to Mitch): Well, what did he say?
Mitch: He said he’d give us even money.
Stanley: Naw! We gotta have odds! Tennessee Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire, opening scene