--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the…" description: "\"“Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/ambrose-bierce-140_conviction_pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the_1613639.jpg" --- # Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of… ![“Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/ambrose-bierce-140_conviction_pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the_1613639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/ambrose-bierce-140_conviction_pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the_1613639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/ambrose-bierce-140_conviction_pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the_1613639.jpg) > ““Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile.”” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pessimism is a worldview shaped by frequent exposure to overly optimistic people whose hopeful attitudes seem insincere. **In simple terms:** Pessimism arises from constant exposure to false optimism. Key Takeaway Question the optimism you encounter. Themes skepticism philosophy human nature Mood cautious critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - media consumption - political discourse - personal relationships - workplace culture Key Concepts cognitive bias social influence psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does constant optimism affect your perception of reality? - When is healthy skepticism necessary? A Different Perspective Optimism can also inspire progress; dismissing it entirely may stifle hope. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Disheartening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disheartening/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [Of all the bewildering things about a new country, the absence of human landmarks is one of the most depressing and disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willa-cather/of-all-the-bewildering-things-about-a-new-country-the-absence-of/) [Willa Cather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willa-cather/) > [“There’s little in life that’s so disheartening as constant cold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/there-s-little-in-life-that-s-so-disheartening-as-constant-cold/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I can’t think of anything more disheartening than living a life without a clear purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-willey/i-can-t-think-of-anything-more-disheartening-than-living-a-life/) [Daniel Willey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-willey/) > [If there is any one thing that will bring peace and contentment into the human heart, and into the family, it is to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/if-there-is-any-one-thing-that-will-bring-peace-and-contentment-into-2/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [So I'll be honest, after the whole Rusev Day thing ended with more of a whimper than a bang, it was a little disheartening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-english/so-i-ll-be-honest-after-the-whole-rusev-day-thing-ended-with-more-of/) [Aiden English](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-english/) > [The most disheartening tendency common among readers is to tear out one sentence from a work, as a criterion of the writer's ideas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/the-most-disheartening-tendency-common-among-readers-is-to-tear-out/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [“Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who becomes their disease. I know so many people like that. It’s disheartening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/don-t-tell-me-you-re-one-of-those-people-who-becomes-their-disease-i-2/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [I went to a private school, and I struggled academically. It was really disheartening to always be considered bad at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-went-to-a-private-school-and-i-struggled-academically-it-was-really/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [I think any filmmaker will tell you when they wandered from theater to theater to watch their prints, it was disheartening to see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/i-think-any-filmmaker-will-tell-you-when-they-wandered-from-theater-2/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [how poor and disheartening a thing is experience compared with hope!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vita-sackville-west/how-poor-and-disheartening-a-thing-is-experience-compared-with-hope/) [Vita Sackville-West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vita-sackville-west/) > [Among the most disheartening and dangerous of . . . advisors, you will often find those closest to you, your dearest friends, members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minnie-maddern-fiske/among-the-most-disheartening-and-dangerous-of-advisors-you-will-often/) [Minnie Maddern Fiske](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minnie-maddern-fiske/) > [My mother told me that everything in life happened for a purpose. She said all things were part of God's plan, even the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/my-mother-told-me-that-everything-in-life-happened-for-a-purpose-she/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I'll be honest, watching the music industry collapse has been demoralizing and disheartening at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-ll-be-honest-watching-the-music-industry-collapse-has-been/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [“But for fear of disheartening them, we also spoke to them of disappointments and the bitter taste that rest has after a useless action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/but-for-fear-of-disheartening-them-we-also-spoke-to-them-of/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupéry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [I love the art form, but working in film can be a disheartening experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-love-the-art-form-but-working-in-film-can-be-a-disheartening/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Conviction quotes > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [I've been around in public life for a long time. I think people know what I stand for. They know that I have strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/i-ve-been-around-in-public-life-for-a-long-time-i-think-people-know/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) > [“Desert are you, deluge are you, in a crowd of fakes, only truth is you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/desert-are-you-deluge-are-you-in-a-crowd-of-fakes-only-truth-is-you/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [For a successful revolution it is not enough that there is discontent. What is required is a profound and thorough conviction of the justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-r-ambedkar/for-a-successful-revolution-it-is-not-enough-that-there-is-discontent/) [B. R. Ambedkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-r-ambedkar/) > ['Peace on earth, good will toward men' - democracy must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/peace-on-earth-good-will-toward-men-democracy-must-cling-to-that/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [ Beneath everything else, North and West, there ran a profound, unvoiced, almost subconscious conviction that the \[American\] nation was going to go on growing-in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-catton/beneath-everything-else-north-and-west-there-ran-a-profound-unvoiced/) [Bruce Catton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-catton/) > [Nor would anybody suspect. If was one thing all people took for granted, was conviction that if you feed honest figures into a computer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/nor-would-anybody-suspect-if-was-one-thing-all-people-took-for/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [When you fight to give your family bread, that's not passion anymore: that's conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoel-romero/when-you-fight-to-give-your-family-bread-that-s-not-passion-anymore/) [Yoel Romero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoel-romero/) > [If you know the differences between an oak and a poplar, a spruce and a pine, down to the needles... you are able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-allen-lawson/if-you-know-the-differences-between-an-oak-and-a-poplar-a-spruce-and/) [T. Allen Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-allen-lawson/) > [We need the conviction to be able to think for ourselves and to take action outof our own sense of responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/we-need-the-conviction-to-be-able-to-think-for-ourselves-and-to-take/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [The law of England has established trial by judge and jury in the conviction that it is the mode best calculated to ascertain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/the-law-of-england-has-established-trial-by-judge-and-jury-in-the/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [If you are going to flip something, you must have the courage of your convictions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-child/if-you-are-going-to-flip-something-you-must-have-the-courage-of-your/) [Julia Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-child/) > [We embark unhesitatingly on the path, in a direction that is absolutely right and urgent, supported by everyone, in the knowledge that this path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehudi-menuhin/we-embark-unhesitatingly-on-the-path-in-a-direction-that-is/) [Yehudi Menuhin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehudi-menuhin/) [Browse all 2,157 Conviction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the optimist with his scarecrow hope and his unsightly smile.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ambrose Bierce" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the-convictions-of-the-observer/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conviction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the-convictions-of-the-observer/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/ambrose-bierce-140_conviction_pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the_1613639.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/ambrose-bierce-140_conviction_pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the_1613639.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/833/ambrose-bierce-140_conviction_pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the_1613639.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon the convictions of the observer by the disheartening prevalence of the…” — Ambrose Bierce", "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": "Ambrose Bierce", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Pessimism n. A philosophy forced upon...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the-convictions-of-the-observer/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/pessimism-n-a-philosophy-forced-upon-the-convictions-of-the-observer/#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 } } ] } ```