9+ Best Pessimists Quotes in English

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

- William Arthur Ward -

The pessimist sees the negativity of the wind blowing and, instead of attempting to change the situation, reacts with a negative attitude and complains about the wind. Not every situation can be salvaged. Some things will turn out badly. But there are a few things that cannot be changed at least a little if you are willing to work at it. Yes, you may still lose, but you might just be able to score a few points if you work hard and are smart.

Pessimists are not boring. Pessimists are right. Pessimists are superfluous.

- Elias Canetti -

Pessimists tend to believe the worst aspects of things or believe that the worst will happen. Everyone has their ups and downs when thinking is more negative or positive. Life circumstances and the effects of time and experience can also impact our relative pessimism or optimism. Pessimists are not boring

I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.

- Antonio Gramsci -

Pessimism of the Intellect means, simply, being a scientist: see the world as it really is, not as you might like it to be. Try to identify and overcome hidden biases or prior assumptions. Always ask yourself: What assumption am I making? What if it is incorrect? How do I know what I know? The optimism of the Will means, having the courage to attempt difficult things. Sometimes, Will can overcome the odds.

A pessimist is a man who looks both ways when he crosses the street.

- Laurence J. Peter -

Remember when we were a child and we were told to always look both ways before crossing the street? We were told that we would be hurt if we did not take a few seconds to look to the left and right of us before moving forward. A pessimist man looks both ways when he crosses the street.

The belief that the world is getting worse, that we can’t solve extreme poverty and disease, isn’t just mistaken. It’s harmful.

- Bill Gates -

Gates understands that even the most challenging problems have solutions and that if you’re in a position to help other people, then you should do so. The world is getting worse, and we can’t solve extreme poverty and disease. That’s why he and his wife Melinda donated over $36 billion to charity.

Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the airplane, the pessimist the parachute.

- George Bernard Shaw -

We were taught that pessimists see the glass as half-empty while optimists see it as half-full. Successful living requires a fine balance between optimism and pessimism. Both are feelings of expectations; arising from the state of our mind and depend on the way we experience the forces of faith or fear. Optimism designed a ship to sail daringly into the skies—and fall perhaps at times. So pessimism designed the parachute.

If you expect the worst, you’ll never be disappointed.

- Sarah Dessen -

If you do not expect good things to happen, you will not be disappointed when they fail to happen. Someone who is without expectation has an open mind. He will not have to deal with the disappointment of things not turning out as planned. It is an excellent mindset. This way you can appreciate good things which come your way.

I'd rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.

- Elon Musk -

Logic and reason show you how bad things really are. Maybe that's why so few people think logically. The need for comfort trumps any willingness to acknowledge the truth. Because as it turns out, the truth is pretty dark. I'd rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.

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

- Robert Oppenheimer -

It's important to look at both the positives and the negatives. Forget other possible worlds. If the pessimist believes that this world is as good as it can get, that is a worrying thought to accept (fears it is true). The quote contrasts what the optimist thinks is a good thing with what the pessimist fears as a bad thing.