--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is an optimist? The man who says…" description: "\"What is an optimist? The man who says, \"It's worse everywhere else. We're better off than the rest of the world. We've been lucky.\" He is happy with th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/anonymous-1_break_what-is-an-optimist-the-man-who-says-it_3137053.jpg" --- # What is an optimist? The man who says, "It's worse… ![“What is an optimist? The man who says, "It's worse everywhere else. We're better off than the rest of the world. We've been lucky." He is happy with things as they are and he doesn't torment himself. What is a pessimist? The man who says, "Things are fine everywhere but here. Everyone else is…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/anonymous-1_break_what-is-an-optimist-the-man-who-says-it_3137053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/anonymous-1_break_what-is-an-optimist-the-man-who-says-it_3137053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3f/anonymous-1_break_what-is-an-optimist-the-man-who-says-it_3137053.jpg) > “What is an optimist? The man who says, "It's worse everywhere else. We're better off than the rest of the world. We've been lucky." He is happy with things as they are and he doesn't torment himself. What is a pessimist? The man who says, "Things are fine everywhere but here. Everyone else is better off than we are. We're the only ones who've had a bad break." He torments himself continually.” [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. Optimism and pessimism are mindsets that frame reality differently, affecting self‑torment. **In simple terms:** Optimist sees self, pessimist sees worse. Key Takeaway Choose perspective to reduce self‑torment. Themes mindset optimism pessimism Mood thoughtful analytical Type psychological motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - mental health - daily reflections Key Concepts cognitive bias self‑talk Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your view? - How can you balance optimism with realism? A Different Perspective May ignore real problems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist/) [Torment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/torment/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is a man who hopes they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-pessimist-is-a-man-who-thinks-all-women-are-bad-an-optimist-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Our notion of an optimist is a man who, knowing that each year was worse than the preceding, thinks next year will be better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-notion-of-an-optimist-is-a-man-who-knowing-that-each-year-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [an optimist is the man who looks after your eyes, and the pessimist the person who looks after your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ada-leverson/an-optimist-is-the-man-who-looks-after-your-eyes-and-the-pessimist/) [Ada Leverson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ada-leverson/) > [To be pessimist is to amputate one's own legs and arms! Only an optimist man has the ability to move!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/to-be-pessimist-is-to-amputate-one-s-own-legs-and-arms-only-an/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [A pessimist is a man who looks both ways when he crosses the street.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/a-pessimist-is-a-man-who-looks-both-ways-when-he-crosses-the-street/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [A pessimist is a man who thinks all women are bad. An optimist is one who hopes they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/a-pessimist-is-a-man-who-thinks-all-women-are-bad-an-optimist-is-one/) [Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/) > [A pessimist is a man who thinks everybody is as nasty as himself, and hates them for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-pessimist-is-a-man-who-thinks-everybody-is-as-nasty-as-himself-and/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The pessimist is the man who believes things couldn't possibly be worse, to which the optimist replies: 'Oh yes they could!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-bukovsky/the-pessimist-is-the-man-who-believes-things-couldn-t-possibly-be/) [Vladimir Bukovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-bukovsky/) > [A pessimist is a man who has been compelled to live with an optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/a-pessimist-is-a-man-who-has-been-compelled-to-live-with-an-optimist/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [A pessimist is a man who tells the truth prematurely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-pessimist-is-a-man-who-tells-the-truth-prematurely/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [An optimist is a man who sees everything half as bad and twice as good as it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-ruhmann/an-optimist-is-a-man-who-sees-everything-half-as-bad-and-twice-as/) Heinz Ruhmann > [“An optimist is a man who has never had much experience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-marquis/an-optimist-is-a-man-who-has-never-had-much-experience/) [Don Marquis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-marquis/) > [There is only one optimist. He has been here since man has been on this earth, and that is man himself. If we hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/there-is-only-one-optimist-he-has-been-here-since-man-has-been-on/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [An extreme optimist is a man who believes that humanity will probably survive even if it doesn't take his advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccarthy/an-extreme-optimist-is-a-man-who-believes-that-humanity-will-probably/) [John McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccarthy/) > [An optimist is a man who plants two acorns and buys a hammock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-lattre-de-tassigny/an-optimist-is-a-man-who-plants-two-acorns-and-buys-a-hammock/) Jean de Lattre de Tassigny ## 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 Break quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. 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