Impossible VS Improbable
I love a good paradox. In my reading of The Father Brown Stories by G. K. Chesterton yesterday I came across a good one. Chesterton imposed the thought from Father Brown that “I can believe the impossible, but not the improbable” (p. 216). After Father Brown said this, another character replied, “That’s what you call a paradox, isn’t it?” To that Father Brown replied, “It’s what I call common sense, properly understood” (p. 216). This thought of impossible vs. improbable intrigued me from a leadership, innovation, and disruption standpoint; not to mention our personal lives.
In this passage, Chesterton had Father Brown expressing a fascinating perspective on belief and faith. highlighted Father Brown’s deep faith and his tendency to see the divine or moral truths behind even the most unlikely circumstances, trusting in what might seem impossible rather than what is merely improbable.
“Impossible,” in this story referred to things that defy all logical or natural explanation—things that are beyond the realm of possibility as we understand it. Despite their fantastical nature, Father Brown stated he believed in these because sometimes extraordinary events can be divine or supernatural, which faith readily accepts.
“Improbable” referred to things that are unlikely or rare but still possible within the laws of probability. However, Father Brown found it harder to believe in these because their likelihood makes them more suspicious or less trustworthy.
For those of us innovators and change agents it encourages us to trust our intuition and moral compass, even when the evidence or conventional wisdom suggests otherwise. Sometimes, true innovation requires believing in ideas or visions that seem improbable or challenge existing norms—much like faith in something unseen or unproven.
It also underscores the importance of having confidence in principles rooted in purpose, ethics, and long-term vision rather than just short-term data or statistical probability. Leaders who are willing to look beyond immediate odds and believe in the potential of their ideas can push boundaries and bring about meaningful change.
Byron's Babbles 
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