The basis for optimism is sheer terror.

The basis for optimism is sheer terror.

There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist, except an old optimist.

There is no sadder sight than a young pessimist, except an old optimist.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail.

I believe that man will not merely endure; he will prevail.

The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose

The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose

In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip.

In the long run the pessimist may be proved right, but the optimist has a better time on the trip.

... she knew in her heart that to be without optimism, that core of reasonless hope in the spirit rather read more

... she knew in her heart that to be without optimism, that core of reasonless hope in the spirit rather than the brain, was a fatal flaw, the seed of death.

For myself I am an optimist--it does not seem to be much use being anything else.

For myself I am an optimist--it does not seem to be much use being anything else.

I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else.

I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else.