Quotes About Pessimism

He who thinks all mankind is vile is a pessimist who mistakes his introspection for observation; he looks into his own heart and thinks he sees the world.

I am by nature an optimist and by intellectual conviction a pessimist.

Cynics are simply thwarted romantics.

I was cursed with the pessimism of both the Russians and the Jews, two of the gloomiest tribes in the world. Still, if there wasn't greatness in me, maybe I had the talent to recognize it in others, even in the most irritating others.

In good times, pessimism is a luxury; but in bad times, pessimism is a self-fulfilling and fatal prophecy.

I wanted to find a reason not to be cynical—to have some faith even when nothing around me seemed to justify it.

Because pessimism needs to counter that argument in order to be at all persuasive, a recurring theme in pessimistic theories throughout history has been that an exceptionally dangerous moment is imminent.

Consider also the revolutionary utopians, who typically achieve only destruction and stagnation. Though they are blind optimists, what defines them as utopians is their pessimism that their supposed utopia, or their violent proposals for achieving and entrenching it, could ever be improved upon. Additionally,

He didn't like very many people any more, or very many things either. He preferred not to be this way, but there it was, he was like that. His cynicism, a veteran's cynicism, was a thing that disturbed him all the time.

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight [nothing can be fixed]: and that which is wanting [lacking] cannot be numbered [counted]. Another interpretation of verse 15, above, might depict pessimism in dealing with people. It could be saying that people never learn their lessons, and that their foolishness seems to be infinite.

I prefer to see myself as the Janus, the two-faced god who is half Pollyanna and half Cassandra, warning of the future and perhaps living too much in the past - a combination of both.

Christians should not be optimists; we know too much about sin. We should also not be pessimists, for we know the living God.

Most people are fools, most authority is malignant, God does not exist, and everything is wrong.

God save me from idealists.

I have one good characteristic: I'm a pessimist, so I always imagine the worst - always. To me, the future is a black hole.

Faith makes all evil good to us, and all good better; unbelief makes all good evil, and all evil worse.

I haven't been in a good mood since I was 6 years old

A conservative government survives essentially by dampening expectations and subduing hopes. Conservatism is basically pessimistic, reformism is basically optimistic.

I think people in Great Britain are a bit jaded sometimes.

Don't ever become a pessimist... a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun, and neither can stop the march of events.

The safest way of not being very miserable is not to expect to be very happy.

I had little talent for happiness.

I don't believe that happiness is possible, but I think tranquility is.

I always see what's... wrong. Would you want that? When I see a car or a rocket or spacecraft, I only see what's wrong. I never see what's right. It's not a recipe for happiness.