--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a pessimist by nature. I don't think…" description: "\"I'm a pessimist by nature. I don't think things are ever going to work out, I'm not particularly ambitious.\" — Diablo Cody" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/diablo-cody-2531_ambitious_i-m-a-pessimist-by-nature-i-don-t-think_2592318.png" --- # I'm a pessimist by nature. I don't think things are ever… ![“I'm a pessimist by nature. I don't think things are ever going to work out, I'm not particularly ambitious.” quote by Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/diablo-cody-2531_ambitious_i-m-a-pessimist-by-nature-i-don-t-think_2592318.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/diablo-cody-2531_ambitious_i-m-a-pessimist-by-nature-i-don-t-think_2592318.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f47/diablo-cody-2531_ambitious_i-m-a-pessimist-by-nature-i-don-t-think_2592318.png) > “I'm a pessimist by nature. I don't think things are ever going to work out, I'm not particularly ambitious.” [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pessimism and low ambition reflect a worldview that expects failure and avoids effort. **In simple terms:** Pessimism leads to low ambition. Key Takeaway Challenge negative expectations. Themes pessimism ambition mindset self‑fulfilling prophecy motivation Mood somber introspective Type self‑help psychological When to use this quote - goal‑setting workshops - cognitive behavioral therapy - motivational coaching Key Concepts psychology self‑help behavioral economics Questions to Reflect On - What fuels your pessimism? - How can you foster realistic optimism? A Different Perspective Optimism may ignore real obstacles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Going to work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going-to-work/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Particularly Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particularly-ambitious-673983/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist/) [Pessimist Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist-nature-1301117/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Work out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-out/) [Work Particularly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-particularly-1871470/) ## Related quotes > [I will be the first to admit that I am a pessimist by nature. It is, after all, the wisest way to be. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamar-myers/i-will-be-the-first-to-admit-that-i-am-a-pessimist-by-nature-it-is/) [Tamar Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamar-myers/) > [I'm a pessimist by nature, so it's always the worst things that come to mind first whenever you make a decision or have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/domhnall-gleeson/i-m-a-pessimist-by-nature-so-it-s-always-the-worst-things-that-come/) [Domhnall Gleeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/domhnall-gleeson/) > [I'm a pessimist by nature. A pot head, but a pessimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-m-a-pessimist-by-nature-a-pot-head-but-a-pessimist/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [People who don't know me think I'm easy-going, but I'm a pessimist by nature and an old curmudgeon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-garner/people-who-don-t-know-me-think-i-m-easy-going-but-i-m-a-pessimist-by/) [James Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-garner/) > [I'm not a pessimist by nature. I'm not someone who sees things in a bleak way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouriel-roubini/i-m-not-a-pessimist-by-nature-i-m-not-someone-who-sees-things-in-a/) [Nouriel Roubini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouriel-roubini/) > [I've never been particularly ambitious. I'm driven by the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-depp/i-ve-never-been-particularly-ambitious-i-m-driven-by-the-moment/) [Johnny Depp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-depp/) > [I'm not a particularly ambitious person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-not-a-particularly-ambitious-person/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [Personally, I have nothing against work, particularly when performed, quietly and unobtrusively, by someone else. I just don't happen to think it's an appropriate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/personally-i-have-nothing-against-work-particularly-when-performed/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [Most people like hard work, particularly when they're paying for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/most-people-like-hard-work-particularly-when-they-re-paying-for-it/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The old and honorable idea of 'vocation' is simply that we each are called, by God, or by our gifts, or by our preference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-old-and-honorable-idea-of-vocation-is-simply-that-we-each-are/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The intelligent investor is a realist who sells to optimists and buys from pessimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-intelligent-investor-is-a-realist-who-sells-to-optimists-and-buys/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [I'm such a pessimist. I find it impossible to enjoy anything, especially while it's happening. I'm thinking about how to get the next thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-anderson/i-m-such-a-pessimist-i-find-it-impossible-to-enjoy-anything/) [Jacob Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-anderson/) > [“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/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [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 Diablo Cody > [One nice thing about being a woman in Hollywood is that the women tend to be very close-knit. All of us writers and directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/one-nice-thing-about-being-a-woman-in-hollywood-is-that-the-women/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [You know, it shouldn't just be about women as heroic figures overcoming things, it just needs to be about women in general getting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/you-know-it-shouldn-t-just-be-about-women-as-heroic-figures/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [It's possible that I've matured as a writer, and I hope I've matured emotionally, but I always find myself revisiting these adolescent scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/it-s-possible-that-i-ve-matured-as-a-writer-and-i-hope-i-ve-matured/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [It's actually much harder to develop a TV show than I had anticipated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/it-s-actually-much-harder-to-develop-a-tv-show-than-i-had-anticipated/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I normally ignore the History Channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-normally-ignore-the-history-channel/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [Hollywood is a perpetual summerland, a temperate, godless yaw where the very word 'season' has been co-opted by television executives. There are few harbingers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/hollywood-is-a-perpetual-summerland-a-temperate-godless-yaw-where-the/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I do a nice sloppy first draft like everybody else. And then just work at it and work at it and groom it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-do-a-nice-sloppy-first-draft-like-everybody-else-and-then-just-work/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [But here is the single greatest thing about the 'Vanity Fair' party: There are uniformed In-N-Out Burger employees circulating the room with trays of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/but-here-is-the-single-greatest-thing-about-the-vanity-fair-party/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [People don't have these tidy little redemption arcs in reality the way they do in movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/people-don-t-have-these-tidy-little-redemption-arcs-in-reality-the/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [This is for the writers. I want to thank all the writers. I especially want to thank my fellow nominees because I worship you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/this-is-for-the-writers-i-want-to-thank-all-the-writers-i-especially/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I had the experience last year of directing my first feature while I had a 1-year-old son and while I was also pregnant, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-had-the-experience-last-year-of-directing-my-first-feature-while-i/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I absolutely relate to being alone in squalor, trying to come up with something adequate. I relate to that, and I've been known to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-absolutely-relate-to-being-alone-in-squalor-trying-to-come-up-with/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [In my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/in-my-opinion-the-best-thing-you-can-do-is-find-a-person-who-loves/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [The public's appetite for frothy, flippant blondes has waned, but Paris Hilton still fascinates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/the-public-s-appetite-for-frothy-flippant-blondes-has-waned-but-paris/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) > [I spent a lot of time staring at the clock in school, so I have that kind of personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diablo-cody/i-spent-a-lot-of-time-staring-at-the-clock-in-school-so-i-have-that/) [Diablo Cody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) [Explore all 161 Diablo Cody quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diablo-cody/) ## More Ambitious quotes > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a pessimist by nature. 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