--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is well known in cognitive science…" description: "\"“It is well known in cognitive science that if you are pessimistic, you sound ‘smarter,”\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/anonymous-1_cognitive-science_it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-th_2463334.jpg" --- # It is well known in cognitive science that if you are… ![“It is well known in cognitive science that if you are pessimistic, you sound ‘smarter,” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/anonymous-1_cognitive-science_it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-th_2463334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/anonymous-1_cognitive-science_it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-th_2463334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/anonymous-1_cognitive-science_it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-th_2463334.jpg) > ““It is well known in cognitive science that if you are pessimistic, you sound ‘smarter,”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Being pessimistic can make one appear more intelligent, according to cognitive science. **In simple terms:** Pessimism may seem smarter. Key Takeaway Beware of equating negativity with intelligence. Themes cognitive bias optimism pessimism Mood insightful critical Type observation philosophical When to use this quote - debates - job interviews - self‑presentation Key Concepts psychology social perception Questions to Reflect On - Why do we associate pessimism with intelligence? - How can optimism be framed as smart? A Different Perspective Negativity can harm mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cognitive science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognitive-science/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Pessimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimistic/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [Men will gather knowledge no matter what the consequences. Science will go on whether we are pessimistic or optimistic, as I am. More interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-pauling/men-will-gather-knowledge-no-matter-what-the-consequences-science/) [Linus Pauling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-pauling/) > [And why do English people sound smarter than the rest of us? Like they should be awarded the Nobel Prize for a simple greeting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/and-why-do-english-people-sound-smarter-than-the-rest-of-us-like-they/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [I was confident that I was a special person. But time slowly chips away at life. People don't just die when their time comes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-was-confident-that-i-was-a-special-person-but-time-slowly-chips-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate being around depressing, pessimistic people...Ugh, stop complaining, smile and get over it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-being-around-depressing-pessimistic-people-ugh-stop/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There’s no possibility of being pessimistic when people are dependent on you for their only optimism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-no-possibility-of-being-pessimistic-when-people-are-dependent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my answer is always the same: If you look at the science about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-asked-if-i-am-pessimistic-or-optimistic-about-the-future-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a pessimistic person, I see the glass half empty even when it's full.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-a-pessimistic-person-i-see-the-glass-half-empty-even-when-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [But you are the average of the five people you associate with most, so do not underestimate the effects of your pessimistic, unambitious, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-you-are-the-average-of-the-five-people-you-associate-with-most-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am pessimistic about the human race because it is too ingenious for its own good. Our approach to nature is to beat it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-pessimistic-about-the-human-race-because-it-is-too-ingenious-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Epistemology now flourishes with various complementary approaches. This includes formal epistemology, experimental philosophy, cognitive science and psychology, including relevant brain science, and other philosophical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/epistemology-now-flourishes-with-various-complementary-approaches/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [Cognitive science is a rapidly developing area, so it could be that there are some surprises around the corner. That does seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-menand/cognitive-science-is-a-rapidly-developing-area-so-it-could-be-that/) [Louis Menand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-menand/) > [Decision-making is difficult because, by its nature, it involves uncertainty. If there was no uncertainty, decisions would be easy! The uncertainty exists because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/decision-making-is-difficult-because-by-its-nature-it-involves/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [“Memory results from a process of continual re-categorization which, by its nature, must be procedural and involve continual motor activity and repeated rehearsal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-edelman/memory-results-from-a-process-of-continual-re-categorization-which-by/) [Gerald Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-edelman/) > [“Mindless action without a real understanding of the ramifications is only likely to result in serious miscalculations or a colossal waste of time. Avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/mindless-action-without-a-real-understanding-of-the-ramifications-is/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) > [“The brain works in a holistic, cooperative way that makes our basest desire or most abject fear as expressive of who we are as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/the-brain-works-in-a-holistic-cooperative-way-that-makes-our-basest/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Cognitive science quotes > [“The brain works in a holistic, cooperative way that makes our basest desire or most abject fear as expressive of who we are as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/the-brain-works-in-a-holistic-cooperative-way-that-makes-our-basest/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) > [“Mindless action without a real understanding of the ramifications is only likely to result in serious miscalculations or a colossal waste of time. Avoid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-amerland/mindless-action-without-a-real-understanding-of-the-ramifications-is/) [David Amerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-amerland/) > [“Memory results from a process of continual re-categorization which, by its nature, must be procedural and involve continual motor activity and repeated rehearsal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-edelman/memory-results-from-a-process-of-continual-re-categorization-which-by/) [Gerald Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-edelman/) > [Decision-making is difficult because, by its nature, it involves uncertainty. If there was no uncertainty, decisions would be easy! The uncertainty exists because we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-levitin/decision-making-is-difficult-because-by-its-nature-it-involves/) [Daniel Levitin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-levitin/) > [Cognitive science is a rapidly developing area, so it could be that there are some surprises around the corner. That does seem to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-menand/cognitive-science-is-a-rapidly-developing-area-so-it-could-be-that/) [Louis Menand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-menand/) > [Epistemology now flourishes with various complementary approaches. This includes formal epistemology, experimental philosophy, cognitive science and psychology, including relevant brain science, and other philosophical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-sosa/epistemology-now-flourishes-with-various-complementary-approaches/) [Ernest Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-sosa/) > [“Truly to realize the ambitions of a science of mind does not solely involve learning about such issues as how we know, perceive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-nuallain/truly-to-realize-the-ambitions-of-a-science-of-mind-does-not-solely/) Sean O Nuallain > [“Consciousness may be seen as the haughty and restless second cousin of morphology. Memory is its mistress, perception its somewhat abused wife, logic its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-edelman/consciousness-may-be-seen-as-the-haughty-and-restless-second-cousin/) [Gerald Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-edelman/) > [People think that design is styling. Design is not style. It's not about giving shape to the shell and not giving a damn about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paola-antonelli/people-think-that-design-is-styling-design-is-not-style-it-s-not/) [Paola Antonelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paola-antonelli/) > [I do think that an understanding of contemporary work in the cognitive sciences has a profound effect on how one views the workings of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-kornblith/i-do-think-that-an-understanding-of-contemporary-work-in-the/) [Hilary Kornblith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-kornblith/) > [Empty heads, cognitive science has taught us, learn nothing. The powerful cultural and personal flexibility of our species is owed at least in part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/empty-heads-cognitive-science-has-taught-us-learn-nothing-the/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [17th century philosophers were not in a position to understand the mind as well as we can today, since the advent of experimental methods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-kornblith/17th-century-philosophers-were-not-in-a-position-to-understand-the/) [Hilary Kornblith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-kornblith/) > [One of the things cognitive science teaches us is that when people define their very identity by a worldview, or a narrative, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lakoff/one-of-the-things-cognitive-science-teaches-us-is-that-when-people/) [George Lakoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lakoff/) > [“Perceptions of the world and of other actors diverge from reality in patterns that we can detect and for reasons that we can understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jervis/perceptions-of-the-world-and-of-other-actors-diverge-from-reality-in/) Robert Jervis > [“Sound waves, regardless of their frequency or intensity, can only be detected by the Mole Fly’s acute sense of smell—it is a little known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashim-shanker/sound-waves-regardless-of-their-frequency-or-intensity-can-only-be/) [Ashim Shanker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashim-shanker/) [Browse all 29 Cognitive science quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognitive-science/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It is well known in cognitive science that if you are pessimistic, you sound ‘smarter,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Anonymous" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-that-if-you-are-pessimistic-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cognitive science" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-that-if-you-are-pessimistic-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/anonymous-1_cognitive-science_it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-th_2463334.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/anonymous-1_cognitive-science_it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-th_2463334.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/anonymous-1_cognitive-science_it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-th_2463334.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is well known in cognitive science that if you are pessimistic, you sound ‘smarter,” — Anonymous", "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": "Anonymous", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It is well known in cognitive...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-that-if-you-are-pessimistic-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-well-known-in-cognitive-science-that-if-you-are-pessimistic-you/#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 } } ] } ```