Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts.

The line frames “difficulty” as an inadequate defense against moral or civic responsibility. Murrow’s public persona—especially his insistence that journalism and public institutions be judged by their actions rather than their explanations—fits the sentiment: history records outcomes and choices, not the obstacles invoked to justify inaction. The aphorism implies a stern standard of accountability: leaders and citizens may face real constraints, but posterity will evaluate whether they met the moment despite them. It also carries a warning about complacency: invoking difficulty can become a rhetorical shield that postpones necessary decisions until the opportunity for meaningful action has passed.