I hope for nothing.
I fear nothing.
I am free.
—Nikos Kazantzakis, 1957
8
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
—Alexander Pope, 1727
9
Only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s habitation henceforth be
safely built.
—Bertrand Russell, 1910
***
I find nothing more depressing than optimism.
—Paul Fussell, 1990
Optimism […] is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.
—Voltaire, 1759
Optimist, n. A proponent of the doctrine that black is white.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1911
The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum.
—Havelock Ellis, 1923
Positive, adj. Mistaken at the top of one’s voice.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1911
Only fools are positive.
—Anonymous
10
When they come downstairs from their Ivory Towers, idealists are very apt to walk straight
into the gutter.
—Logan Pearsall Smith, 1931
At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice, and those
great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity: idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols.
—Aldous Huxley, 1952
***
8
His self-epitaph.
9
A. Pope declared this was a ninth Beatitude, added by him to the eight ones listed in the Bible
(Matthew 5:3–12).
10
I have seen this quote attributed to actor Moe Howard, but could not find a reliable confirmation
of his authorship.
On Optimism, Pessimism, and Happiness
89
I fear nothing.
I am free.
—Nikos Kazantzakis, 1957
8
Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.
—Alexander Pope, 1727
9
Only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair, can the soul’s habitation henceforth be
safely built.
—Bertrand Russell, 1910
***
I find nothing more depressing than optimism.
—Paul Fussell, 1990
Optimism […] is the obstinacy of maintaining that everything is best when it is worst.
—Voltaire, 1759
Optimist, n. A proponent of the doctrine that black is white.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1911
The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum.
—Havelock Ellis, 1923
Positive, adj. Mistaken at the top of one’s voice.
—Ambrose Bierce, 1911
Only fools are positive.
—Anonymous
10
When they come downstairs from their Ivory Towers, idealists are very apt to walk straight
into the gutter.
—Logan Pearsall Smith, 1931
At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice, and those
great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity: idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols.
—Aldous Huxley, 1952
***
8
His self-epitaph.
9
A. Pope declared this was a ninth Beatitude, added by him to the eight ones listed in the Bible
(Matthew 5:3–12).
10
I have seen this quote attributed to actor Moe Howard, but could not find a reliable confirmation
of his authorship.
On Optimism, Pessimism, and Happiness
89