One does not, sir, prove oneself a superior man by perceiving the world in an odious light.
—François-René de Chateaubriand, 1802
It is easier to blame than do better.
—German proverb
How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1860
Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain—and most fools do.
—Dale Carnegie, 1936
***
Cynics are right nine times out of ten; what undoes them is their belief that they are right ten
times out of ten.
—Charles Issawi, 1973
11
An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run does not
matter. A realist believes that what is done (or left undone) in the short run determines the
long run.
—Sidney J. Harris, 1979
I’m a pessimist about probabilities, I’m an optimist about possibilities.
—Lewis Mumford
12
The essence of my optimism is constructive pessimism.
—Fausto Cercignani, 2004
No man who is correctly informed as to the past, will be disposed to take a morose or
desponding view of the present.
—Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1861
I have always been—I think any student of history almost inevitably is—a cheerful
pessimist.
—Jacques Barzun
13
There are two ways to slide easily through life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking.
—Alfred Korzybski, 1921
***
Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now
usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.
—Thomas Szasz, 1973
11
The first clause of this statement is frequently misattributed to H. L. Mencken.
12
As quoted, without a date, by Carey Winfrey in 1977.
13
As quoted, without a date, by Thomas Vinciguerra in 2006.
90
On Optimism, Pessimism, and Happiness
—François-René de Chateaubriand, 1802
It is easier to blame than do better.
—German proverb
How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.
—Benjamin Disraeli, 1860
Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain—and most fools do.
—Dale Carnegie, 1936
***
Cynics are right nine times out of ten; what undoes them is their belief that they are right ten
times out of ten.
—Charles Issawi, 1973
11
An idealist believes the short run doesn’t count. A cynic believes the long run does not
matter. A realist believes that what is done (or left undone) in the short run determines the
long run.
—Sidney J. Harris, 1979
I’m a pessimist about probabilities, I’m an optimist about possibilities.
—Lewis Mumford
12
The essence of my optimism is constructive pessimism.
—Fausto Cercignani, 2004
No man who is correctly informed as to the past, will be disposed to take a morose or
desponding view of the present.
—Thomas Babington Macaulay, 1861
I have always been—I think any student of history almost inevitably is—a cheerful
pessimist.
—Jacques Barzun
13
There are two ways to slide easily through life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking.
—Alfred Korzybski, 1921
***
Happiness is an imaginary condition, formerly attributed by the living to the dead, now
usually attributed by adults to children, and by children to adults.
—Thomas Szasz, 1973
11
The first clause of this statement is frequently misattributed to H. L. Mencken.
12
As quoted, without a date, by Carey Winfrey in 1977.
13
As quoted, without a date, by Thomas Vinciguerra in 2006.
90
On Optimism, Pessimism, and Happiness