---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the general opinion is pessimistic…"
description: "\"If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.\" — David Eddings"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/david-eddings-2147_fantasy_if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fa_3160609.png"
---

#  If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to…

![“If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.” quote by David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/david-eddings-2147_fantasy_if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fa_3160609.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/david-eddings-2147_fantasy_if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fa_3160609.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/david-eddings-2147_fantasy_if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fa_3160609.png)

> “If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.”

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

When pessimism dominates, fantasy offers an alternative hopeful perspective.

**In simple terms:** Fantasy counters pessimism.

Key Takeaway

Use imagination to uplift mood.

Themes

optimism fantasy culture

Mood

hopeful reflective

Type

inspirational literary

When to use this quote

- reading
- creative writing
- film
- art therapy

Key Concepts

narrative escapism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does fantasy inspire hope?
- When is escapism harmful?

A Different Perspective

Fantasy may detach from real problems.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Pessimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimistic/)

## Related quotes

> [“But if the general opinion of Mankind is optimistic then we're in for a period of extreme popularity for science fiction. If the general…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/but-if-the-general-opinion-of-mankind-is-optimistic-then-we-re-in-for/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [I think about that all of the time and I have this fantasy that I am going to work at a museum someday! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-sui/i-think-about-that-all-of-the-time-and-i-have-this-fantasy-that-i-am/)

[Anna Sui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-sui/)

> [My fantasy is going into a men's loo. And listening to what they say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/my-fantasy-is-going-into-a-men-s-loo-and-listening-to-what-they-say/)

[Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/)

> [The minute I forget to balance reality with the fantasy, I'm going back to Virginia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/schuyler-fisk/the-minute-i-forget-to-balance-reality-with-the-fantasy-i-m-going/)

[Schuyler Fisk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/schuyler-fisk/)

> [There's this great fantasy of going to work, every day, and getting to play out what people think my life is, as a successful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-knepper/there-s-this-great-fantasy-of-going-to-work-every-day-and-getting-to/)

[Robert Knepper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-knepper/)

> [If you are going to write, say, fantasy - stop reading fantasy. You've already read too much. Read other things; read westerns, read history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/if-you-are-going-to-write-say-fantasy-stop-reading-fantasy-you-ve/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [“We are not merely more weary because of yesterday, we are other, no longer what we were before the calamity of yesterday.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/we-are-not-merely-more-weary-because-of-yesterday-we-are-other-no/)

[Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/)

> [I'm not pessimistic about people in general, but only about the way they live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-chabrol/i-m-not-pessimistic-about-people-in-general-but-only-about-the-way/)

[Claude Chabrol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-chabrol/)

> [It is a nonsense to me when people come along and tell me not to be pessimistic; or that culture has always been going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-jacobson/it-is-a-nonsense-to-me-when-people-come-along-and-tell-me-not-to-be/)

[Howard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-jacobson/)

> [Pessimistic visions about almost anything always strike the public as more erudite than optimistic ones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-a-schumpeter/pessimistic-visions-about-almost-anything-always-strike-the-public-as/)

[Joseph A. Schumpeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-a-schumpeter/)

> [“Listen to what you tell yourself about your life situation. If you find it's pessimistic or negative, ask yourself, "What's another way of thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-a-robinson/listen-to-what-you-tell-yourself-about-your-life-situation-if-you/)

[Lynn A. Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-a-robinson/)

> [That human life must be some kind of mistake is sufficiently proved by the simple observation that man is a compound of needs which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/that-human-life-must-be-some-kind-of-mistake-is-sufficiently-proved/)

[Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/)

> [I try not to be either optimistic or pessimistic. I try not to think about outcomes on that scale. My job, it seems to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/i-try-not-to-be-either-optimistic-or-pessimistic-i-try-not-to-think/)

[Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/)

> [I realize more and more how instinctively pessimistic I am of all human kindness -- since I am always so bowled over by it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-powell/i-realize-more-and-more-how-instinctively-pessimistic-i-am-of-all/)

[Dawn Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-powell/)

> [Then come to realize that you're making mountains out of molehills. Realize how petty you've become. Sure, it may feel like you can't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-asher/then-come-to-realize-that-you-re-making-mountains-out-of-molehills/)

[Jay Asher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-asher/)

## More by David Eddings

> [I have an unconscious burglar living in my mind: If I read something, it's mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/i-have-an-unconscious-burglar-living-in-my-mind-if-i-read-something/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [“I could insist that somebody take me to her so I can obey her orders." "I think you might choke on that one, Zakath,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/i-could-insist-that-somebody-take-me-to-her-so-i-can-obey-her-orders/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [“Salmissra was alone and unguarded. The palace eunuchs were sworn to protect her, but evidently a eunuch's oath doesn't mean all that much to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/salmissra-was-alone-and-unguarded-the-palace-eunuchs-were-sworn-to/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [...I know that in your heart you miss all those wonderful moments you spent with my father --watching him gnaw on the furniture, listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/i-know-that-in-your-heart-you-miss-all-those-wonderful-moments-you/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [Someday I’d like to see something rise up out of the earth –just for the sake of variety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/someday-i-d-like-to-see-something-rise-up-out-of-the-earth-just-for/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [Isn't it easier to forgive than to hate? -Eriond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/isn-t-it-easier-to-forgive-than-to-hate-eriond/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [Water…I'm thirsty not dirty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/water-i-m-thirsty-not-dirty/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [“One does one's best" - Silk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/one-does-one-s-best-silk/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [“Being afraid was not the sort of thing that endangered life or limb, but it was still an injury of sorts – and sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/being-afraid-was-not-the-sort-of-thing-that-endangered-life-or-limb/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [I'm a storyteller, not a prophet. I'm just interested in a good story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/i-m-a-storyteller-not-a-prophet-i-m-just-interested-in-a-good-story/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [You'll drive yourself crazy if you start trying to pry the meaning out of every gust of wind or rain squall. I'm not denying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/you-ll-drive-yourself-crazy-if-you-start-trying-to-pry-the-meaning/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [“Your extensive travels must have been fatiguing," Zakath said in that same flat tone, "particularly for the ladies. I'll see to it that your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/your-extensive-travels-must-have-been-fatiguing-zakath-said-in-that/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [“No one seems to realise that the aristocracy is God’s special gift to mankind. The burghers treat us no better than commoners. Considering our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/no-one-seems-to-realise-that-the-aristocracy-is-god-s-special-gift-to/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [Nothing that ever happens is so unimportant that it doesn't change things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/nothing-that-ever-happens-is-so-unimportant-that-it-doesn-t-change/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

> [You're a cynic," Urgit accused. Silk shook his head. "No, Your Majesty. I'm a realist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/you-re-a-cynic-urgit-accused-silk-shook-his-head-no-your-majesty-i-m/)

[David Eddings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

[Explore all 179 David Eddings quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/)

## More Fantasy quotes

> [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/)

[Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/)

> [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/)

[Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/)

> [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/)

[Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/)

> [I like fantasy, but I don't live and breathe fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/i-like-fantasy-but-i-don-t-live-and-breathe-fantasy/)

[Lauren Schmidt Hissrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/)

> [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/)

[Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/)

> [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/)

[Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/)

> [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/)

[Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/)

> [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/)

[Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/)

> [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

> [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/)

[Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/)

> [I like to play people that are real, a real person, and then something that's interesting with that person. I think it's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-like-to-play-people-that-are-real-a-real-person-and-then-something/)

[Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/)

> [It's a hindrance in trying to get a serious acting role. The minute a producer has a script and my name comes up, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/it-s-a-hindrance-in-trying-to-get-a-serious-acting-role-the-minute-a/)

[Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/)

> [No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-will-ever-write-a-fantasy-novel-better-than-the-hobbit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/)

[Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/)

> [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/)

[A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/)

[Browse all 5,469 Fantasy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Eddings"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fantasy-is-going-to-hold-its-own/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Fantasy"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fantasy-is-going-to-hold-its-own/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/david-eddings-2147_fantasy_if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fa_3160609.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/david-eddings-2147_fantasy_if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fa_3160609.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/88a/david-eddings-2147_fantasy_if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fa_3160609.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If the general opinion is pessimistic, fantasy is going to hold its own.” — David Eddings",
                "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": "David Eddings",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eddings/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If the general opinion is pessimistic,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fantasy-is-going-to-hold-its-own/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eddings/if-the-general-opinion-is-pessimistic-fantasy-is-going-to-hold-its-own/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
