--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but…" description: "\"Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but pessimism is always delusional.\" — Alan Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/alan-cohen-1112_delusional_optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but_1854210.png" --- # Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but pessimism is… ![“Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but pessimism is always delusional.” quote by Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/alan-cohen-1112_delusional_optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but_1854210.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/alan-cohen-1112_delusional_optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but_1854210.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/alan-cohen-1112_delusional_optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but_1854210.png) > “Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but pessimism is always delusional.” [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimism can be overly hopeful, yet pessimism is inherently flawed and misleading. **In simple terms:** Optimism can be false; pessimism is always false. Key Takeaway Question your assumptions about optimism and pessimism. Themes optimism pessimism truth perception Mood reflective critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - personal decision making - risk assessment - mental health - leadership - marketing Key Concepts cognitive bias philosophical skepticism Questions to Reflect On - Is optimism always harmful? - When can pessimism be useful? A Different Perspective Pessimism may sometimes be based on realistic concerns, not just delusion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusional/) [Delusional Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusional-pessimism-2453628/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Optimism Delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism-delusional-2453627/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimism Delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism-delusional-2453629/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [I was also built from delusional optimism and folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-was-also-built-from-delusional-optimism-and-folly/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room others by leaving the room. Some individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/every-person-has-the-power-to-make-others-happy-some-do-it-simply-by/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Optimism is an alienated form of faith, pessimism an alienated form of despair. If one truly responds to man and his future, ie ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/optimism-is-an-alienated-form-of-faith-pessimism-an-alienated-form-of/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [Creeds matter very little... The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-branch-cabell/creeds-matter-very-little-the-optimist-proclaims-that-we-live-in-the/) [James Branch Cabell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-branch-cabell/) > [“To quote the late John Templeton, “Bull-markets are born on pessimism, grow on skepticism, mature on optimism and die on euphoria. The time to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-skarica/to-quote-the-late-john-templeton-bull-markets-are-born-on-pessimism/) [David Skarica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-skarica/) > [Pessimists fear becoming the dupes of Hope. Optimists enjoy Hope's company, and consider being duped no great matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/pessimists-fear-becoming-the-dupes-of-hope-optimists-enjoy-hope-s/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Vision involves optimism and hope. The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. The pessimist tends to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/vision-involves-optimism-and-hope-the-pessimist-sees-difficulty-in/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [“To see all pessimists as pessimists is to be a pessimist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/to-see-all-pessimists-as-pessimists-is-to-be-a-pessimist/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-think-in-terms-of-either-pessimism-or-optimism-oversimplifies-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The point that in the absence of birth nobody exists who can be deprived of happiness is terribly conspicuous. For optimists, this fact plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-ligotti/the-point-that-in-the-absence-of-birth-nobody-exists-who-can-be/) [Thomas Ligotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-ligotti/) > [You can spend your whole life complaining about how much you hate life or you can spend it finding new ways to love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/you-can-spend-your-whole-life-complaining-about-how-much-you-hate/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“The optimist and the pessimist both die in the end, but each lives is life in a completely different way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-optimist-and-the-pessimist-both-die-in-the-end-but-each-lives-is/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“How little one is justified in speaking in this connection of "optimism" and "pessimism" and how much the characterization of liberalism as "optimistic" aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/how-little-one-is-justified-in-speaking-in-this-connection-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/i-m-a-pessimist-because-of-intelligence-but-an-optimist-because-of/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) ## More by Alan Cohen > [When you protect yourself from pain, be sure you do not protect yourself from love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-protect-yourself-from-pain-be-sure-you-do-not-protect/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Anyone in a state of seeking can never be happy. Only those who are constantly finding are fulfilled. And finding is not something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/anyone-in-a-state-of-seeking-can-never-be-happy-only-those-who-are/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“You cannot be other than you are. Thank God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/you-cannot-be-other-than-you-are-thank-god/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Evaluate every act by whether it brings you greater life, or deadens you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/evaluate-every-act-by-whether-it-brings-you-greater-life-or-deadens/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Put aside ambition for public recognition, and simply do what you do because it feels good inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/put-aside-ambition-for-public-recognition-and-simply-do-what-you-do/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“When you finally give up striving, you will be left with what you have been striving for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/when-you-finally-give-up-striving-you-will-be-left-with-what-you-have/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“newspaper ads for lost pets and earthquakes that soon follow. Other studies indicate a higher rate of last-minute cancellations for airplane flights that crash.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/newspaper-ads-for-lost-pets-and-earthquakes-that-soon-follow-other/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [“Quit using your creative power to formulate questions. You can just as easily—more easily— use it to formulate answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/quit-using-your-creative-power-to-formulate-questions-you-can-just-as/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > ['How can I be more like you?' she asked the guru. 'The best way to be more like me is to be more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/how-can-i-be-more-like-you-she-asked-the-guru-the-best-way-to-be-more/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Turmoil is a call for awakening. Every challenge, great or small, is moving you to look deeper and draw forth the highest in you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/turmoil-is-a-call-for-awakening-every-challenge-great-or-small-is/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The difficulties of life do not keep you from greatness. They show you to its door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-difficulties-of-life-do-not-keep-you-from-greatness-they-show-you/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [What a doctor or healer tells you is a reflection of the beliefs and expectations you hold. Change your beliefs and you change the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/what-a-doctor-or-healer-tells-you-is-a-reflection-of-the-beliefs-and/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Quit planning your dream and start living it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/quit-planning-your-dream-and-start-living-it/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [The more you invest in your happiness, the more happiness will invest in you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/the-more-you-invest-in-your-happiness-the-more-happiness-will-invest/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) > [Joy is the wild card of life; it supersedes every other formula for success. If you can find a way to create joy, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/joy-is-the-wild-card-of-life-it-supersedes-every-other-formula-for/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) [Explore all 290 Alan Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) ## More Delusional quotes > [High school sucked. It was a universal truth, and whoever said these were supposed to be the best years of your life was probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/high-school-sucked-it-was-a-universal-truth-and-whoever-said-these/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“The representation of women in the society, especially through mass media has been the most delusional act ever done on the grounds of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-representation-of-women-in-the-society-especially-through-mass/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“In utopia, rule by masterminds is both necessary and necessarily primitive, for it excludes so much that is known to man and about man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-r-levin/in-utopia-rule-by-masterminds-is-both-necessary-and-necessarily/) [Mark R. Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-r-levin/) > [When someone is delusional, there is no point wasting time responding to their delusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kourtney-kardashian/when-someone-is-delusional-there-is-no-point-wasting-time-responding/) [Kourtney Kardashian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kourtney-kardashian/) > [I was putting on a stiff upper lip and trying to fulfill the obligations I thought were demanded of me, taking over my father's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-ginsberg/i-was-putting-on-a-stiff-upper-lip-and-trying-to-fulfill-the/) [Allen Ginsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-ginsberg/) > [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It is a truth universally acknowledged that a delusional Housewife in possession of an audience must be in want of a ludicrous storyline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carole-radziwill/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-delusional-housewife-in/) [Carole Radziwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carole-radziwill/) > [I'm always amazed when I hear people saying, "That George Bush, he's a great leader". And I wonder, where can one find a drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-m-always-amazed-when-i-hear-people-saying-that-george-bush-he-s-a/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [“free will (noun): A delusional idea that humans are in control of their own destiny and not subject to the benevolent rule of The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/free-will-noun-a-delusional-idea-that-humans-are-in-control-of-their/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [I think it's perfectly acceptable and rather admirable to be moderately delusional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gray-gubler/i-think-it-s-perfectly-acceptable-and-rather-admirable-to-be/) [Matthew Gray Gubler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gray-gubler/) > [Only the most saintly and delusional among us welcomes all pain as challenge, perceives all loss as harsh blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-jurek/only-the-most-saintly-and-delusional-among-us-welcomes-all-pain-as/) [Scott Jurek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-jurek/) > [“Call me a pussy if you want. Delusional, impractical, whatever. But, I know myself, and that shit’s called survival. The bad in me, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/misha-horne/call-me-a-pussy-if-you-want-delusional-impractical-whatever-but-i/) [Misha Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/misha-horne/) > [I'm sort of a delusional in the sense of, I was just gonna graduate from school and just, like, prance onto a film set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-winkler/i-m-sort-of-a-delusional-in-the-sense-of-i-was-just-gonna-graduate/) [Max Winkler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-winkler/) > [I was also built from delusional optimism and folly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-king/i-was-also-built-from-delusional-optimism-and-folly/) [A.S. King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-king/) > [“Anybody who expects privacy in the internet is delusional . - Ben Kincaid”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernhardt/anybody-who-expects-privacy-in-the-internet-is-delusional-ben-kincaid/) [William Bernhardt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernhardt/) [Browse all 236 Delusional quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delusional/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but pessimism is always delusional.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alan Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but-pessimism-is-always/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Delusional" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but-pessimism-is-always/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/alan-cohen-1112_delusional_optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but_1854210.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/alan-cohen-1112_delusional_optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but_1854210.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ae/alan-cohen-1112_delusional_optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but_1854210.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but pessimism is always delusional.” — Alan Cohen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alan Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Optimism may sometimes be delusional, but...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but-pessimism-is-always/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/optimism-may-sometimes-be-delusional-but-pessimism-is-always/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```