#optimism

It must be, I thought, one of the race's most persistent and comforting hallucinations to trust that "it can't happen here" -- that one's own time and place is beyond cataclysm. ↗

— John Wyndham

#security #security

What a pessimist you are!" exclaimed Candide. "That is because I know what life is," said Martin. ↗

— Voltaire

#pessimism #satire #life

We live, I suppose, in the unconfessed hope that the rules will at some point be broken, along with the normal course of things and custom and history, and that this will happen to us, that we will experience it, that we — that is, I alone — will be the ones to see it. We always aspire, I suppose, to being the chosen ones, and it is unlikely otherwise that we would be prepared to live out the entire course of an entire life, which, however short or long, gradually gets the better of us. ↗

— Javier Marías

#exceptionalism #optimism #experience

For years to come the debris of a convulsed world will beset our steps. It will require a purpose stronger than any man and worthy of all men to calm and inspirit us. A sane society whose riches are happy children, men and women, beautiful with peace and creative activity, is not going to be ordained for us. We must make it ourselves. ↗

— Helen Keller

#education #happiness #hope #inspiration #optimism

I see the glass half full and thank God for what I have. ↗

— Ana Monnar

#gratitude #optimism #optimistic #gratitude

Optimism with some experience behind it is much more energizing than plain old experience with a certain degree of cynicism. ↗

— Twyla Tharp

#certain #certain degree #cynicism #degree #energizing

I don't doubt for a second that Neil Armstrong's spirit is still with us: that unique blend of optimism, humility and the utter confidence that when the world needs someone to do the really big stuff, you need an American. ↗

— Mitt Romney

#armstrong #big #big stuff #blend #confidence

I hope the millions of people I've touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude. ↗

— Michael Jordan

#desire #goals #hard #hard work #hope

The existence of any evil anywhere at any time absolutely ruins a total optimism. ↗

— George Santayana

#any #anywhere #evil #existence #optimism

My optimism is not based primarily on the successful march of democracy in recent times but rather is based on the experience of having lived in a fear society and studied the mechanics of tyranny that sustain such a society. ↗

— Natan Sharansky

#democracy #experience #fear #having #lived