Being optimistic Quote by George Saunders
“I am trying to remember that things have certainly been crazier in human history and they may get crazier here and now, and [here I am trying to be optimistic] it's even a good thing, to be going through all of this, if only to be reminded that history hasn't stopped - human existence is as fundamentally unmanageable now as it ever was.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, “The Optimist’s Dilemma”, 2020
History is chaotic and unmanageable, yet optimism can be a useful coping tool amid turmoil.
In simple terms: History is chaotic; optimism helps.
Embrace optimism despite chaos.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- global events
- mental resilience
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Can optimism coexist with realistic assessment?
- When does optimism become denial?
Optimism may blind to real dangers.