Pessimistic Quotes

• Pessimism leads to weakness. Optimism leads to power.

  William James

  Uplifting, Optimistic, Positive Thinking

  "The Varieties of Religous Experience: A Study in Human Nature".

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• If we can recognize that change and uncertainty are basic principles, we can greet the future and the transformation we are undergoing with the understanding that we do not know enough to be pessimistic.

  Hazel Henderson

  Change, Spiritual, Optimistic

  Hazel Henderson (1988). “The Politics of the Solar Age: Alternatives to Economics”, Knowledge Systems

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• A pessimist is a person who has had to listen to too many optimists.

  Don Marquis

  Funny, Life, Witty

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• When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic.

  Charles R. Swindoll

  Positive, Attitude, Optimistic

  Charles R. Swindoll (2007). “Wisdom for the Way: Wise Words for Busy People”, p.143, Thomas Nelson Inc

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• At my age it is unseemly to be pessimistic.

  Naguib Mahfouz

  Birthday, Age, Literature

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• As individuals, people are inherently good. I have a somewhat more pessimistic view of people in groups. And I remain extremely concerned when I see what's happening in our country, which is in many ways the luckiest place in the world. We don't seem to be excited about making our country a better place for our kids.

  Steve Jobs

  Country, Kids, Views

  "Steve Jobs: The Next Insanely Great Thing". Interview with Gary Wolf, www.wired.com. February 1, 1996.

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• When I'm lying in my bed, I think about life and I think about death.
  And neither one particularly appeals to me.

  Steven Morrissey

  Life, Death, Song

  "Song: 'Nowhere Fast'". 1985.

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  The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.

  William Arthur Ward

  Inspirational, Inspiring, Leadership

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• I tend to be pessimistic about everything: If things seem to be going good, I'm worried that it's going to end; if things are bad, then I'm worried that it's going to be permanent. It's not a very comfortable attitude to have all the time.

  Jesse Eisenberg

  Attitude, Worried, Ends

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• I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

  Lesslie Newbigin

  Life, Jesus, Optimistic

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• Some people say my work is often depressing and pessimistic, with the emphasis on death, blood, overcrowding, strange beings and so on, but I don't really think it is.

  H. R. Giger

  Depressing, Thinking, Blood

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• Things of the spirit are what count: brotherhood – in a day when there is too much hatred at home and abroad; cheerfulness – in a day when the pessimists have the floor and cynics are popular; service – in a day when millions are interested in getting or grasping, rather than giving

  E. Urner Goodman

  Hate, Home, Giving

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• An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight... the truly wise person is colorblind.

  Albert Schweitzer

  Wise, Wisdom, Attitude

  1965 Quoted in CBS News tribute,14 Jan.

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• The limit of every pain is an even greater pain.

  Emile M. Cioran

  Pain, Limits, Greater

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• If everything always went perfectly, I would feel like, When is the ball going to drop? Because good things don't always last. Maybe I'm a pessimistic person. When something just seems too good, I can't believe it.

  January Jones

  Believe, Balls, Lasts

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• You can't save the rhinos and you can't preserve a culture. I'm very pessimistic. Once it's gone, it's over.

  Paul Theroux

  Rhinos, Culture, Gone

  Source: www.usatoday.com

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• The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true.

  J. Robert Oppenheimer

  Inspirational, Funny, Life

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• I'm a pessimistic person, I see the glass half empty even when it's full.

  Nigahiga

  Glasses, Half, Empty

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• It is possible to live only as long as life intoxicates us; once we are sober we cannot help seeing that it is all a delusion, a stupid delusion.

  Leo Tolstoy

  Stupid, Long, Helping

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• I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin.

  Leonard Cohen

  Rain, Optimistic, Reality

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• If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.

  David Eddings

  Opinion, Fantasy, Ifs

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• I'm not pessimistic about people in general, but only about the way they live.

  Claude Chabrol

  People, Way

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• I see it all perfectly; there are two possible situations - one can either do this or that. My honest opinion and my friendly advice is this: do it or do not do it - you will regret both.

  Soren Kierkegaard

  Regret, Philosophy, Two

  "Either/Or". Book by Soren Kierkegaard, February 20, 1843.

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

  Winston Churchill

  Inspirational, Motivational, Positive

  Winston S. Churchill (2013). “Churchill By Himself”, p.1089, RosettaBooks

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• Pessimism is only the name that men of weak nerve give to wisdom.

  Mark Twain

  Wisdom, Men, Names

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