life is hard

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)

Life is hard
 prov.

   [XEROX PARC] This phrase has two possible interpretations: (1) "While
   your suggestion may have some merit, I will behave as though I hadn't
   heard it." (2) "While your suggestion has obvious merit, equally
   obvious circumstances prevent it from being seriously considered." The
   charm of the phrase lies precisely in this subtle but important
   ambiguity.

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Life is hard

   [XEROX PARC] This phrase has two possible interpretations: (1)
   "While your suggestion may have some merit, I will behave as
   though I hadn't heard it."  (2) "While your suggestion has
   obvious merit, equally obvious circumstances prevent it from
   being seriously considered."  The charm of the phrase lies
   precisely in this subtle but important ambiguity.

   [{Jargon File}]

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