We often confuse the unprecedented with the improbable --- what does this mean ?

Question

this is from Algore speech

Answer 1

unprecedented is something that hasn't ever been done before.

Improbable means it isn't very likely to happen.

so, translation:  we frequently think that just because something hasn't been done before, it's not very likely to happen.

Answer 2

Just becasue we have no proof of something happening in the past, doesn't mean it won't.

Answer 3

it basically means that even though something hasn't happened yet or hasn't been done yet, doesn't necessarily mean it can't happen at all.  =)

Answer 4

Unprecedented would imply something that has never happened before.  Depending on the context it could mean that something which just happend has no other comparable occurance (no precendent).  Improbable would simply mean that the likely hood of something is low.  EX: "In an unprecendented moment of candor, Bill Clinton said it was improbable that he would end up as the first husband of the White House. "