---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The optimist, as you probably know, is a…"
description: "\"The optimist, as you probably know, is a person who, when he wears out his shoes, just figures he's back on his feet.\" — Hartman Rector, Jr"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/hartman-rector-jr-44697_attitude_the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-p_1958295.png"
---

#  The optimist, as you probably know, is a person who, when…

![“The optimist, as you probably know, is a person who, when he wears out his shoes, just figures he's back on his feet.” quote by Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/hartman-rector-jr-44697_attitude_the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-p_1958295.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/hartman-rector-jr-44697_attitude_the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-p_1958295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/hartman-rector-jr-44697_attitude_the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-p_1958295.png)

> “The optimist, as you probably know, is a person who, when he wears out his shoes, just figures he's back on his feet.”

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

## About This Quote

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

An optimist sees setbacks as temporary and believes they will recover quickly.

**In simple terms:** Optimists view setbacks as temporary.

Key Takeaway

Embrace setbacks as opportunities to recover.

Themes

optimism resilience mindset

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- sports injuries
- career setbacks
- personal failures

Key Concepts

growth mindset positive reframing

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you turn a setback into a comeback?
- What evidence supports your optimism?

A Different Perspective

Optimism may ignore real issues needing attention.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/)

## Related quotes

> [Daesh members wear shoes. Does this mean everybody who wears shoes is Daesh?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adel-al-jubeir/daesh-members-wear-shoes-does-this-mean-everybody-who-wears-shoes-is/)

[Adel al-Jubeir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adel-al-jubeir/)

> [Rick Rubin is interesting. He doesn't wear shoes, I think? No wait, he wears shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jpegmafia/rick-rubin-is-interesting-he-doesn-t-wear-shoes-i-think-no-wait-he/)

[JPEGMAFIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jpegmafia/)

> [“You may be tall; you may be short. You may be a black; you may be a white. One more thing to keep behind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-may-be-tall-you-may-be-short-you-may-be-a-black-you-may-be-a/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [I, uh, well, it's the first thing that you do when you go to a job, you go out and do the footings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-hope/i-uh-well-it-s-the-first-thing-that-you-do-when-you-go-to-a-job-you/)

[Charlotte Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-hope/)

> [It is true that no one can harm the person who wears armor. But no one can help him either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-hunter/it-is-true-that-no-one-can-harm-the-person-who-wears-armor-but-no-one/)

[Kristin Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-hunter/)

> [What I like doing is imagery that can be interpreted in any particular way by the person who wears it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-freud/what-i-like-doing-is-imagery-that-can-be-interpreted-in-any/)

[Bella Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-freud/)

> [“Shut up. You don't have to buy a pair of shoes just because you tried them on. They may look great sitting on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherrie-lynn/shut-up-you-don-t-have-to-buy-a-pair-of-shoes-just-because-you-tried/)

[Cherrie Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherrie-lynn/)

> [Shoes are just a pedestal. What interests me is the power of the woman who wears them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-louboutin/shoes-are-just-a-pedestal-what-interests-me-is-the-power-of-the-woman/)

[Christian Louboutin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-louboutin/)

> [“In life...You have to do what is right for you. Nobody else walks in your shoes. Just make sure your shoes are always moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/in-life-you-have-to-do-what-is-right-for-you-nobody-else-walks-in/)

[Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/)

> [I know I got them songs with Future, but I ain't just star struck. I got a song with Wayne, but Wayne just puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-homie-quan/i-know-i-got-them-songs-with-future-but-i-ain-t-just-star-struck-i/)

[Rich Homie Quan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-homie-quan/)

> [People ask me if my shoes were too small when I was a kid and I say it wouldnt matter how fight my shoes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomar-garciaparra/people-ask-me-if-my-shoes-were-too-small-when-i-was-a-kid-and-i-say/)

[Nomar Garciaparra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomar-garciaparra/)

> [Baby take your shoes off, she just trying to kick it. Gone down town now, she gonna let me kiss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyga/baby-take-your-shoes-off-she-just-trying-to-kick-it-gone-down-town/)

[Tyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyga/)

> [“What is it about shoes? I mean, I like most kind of clothes, but a fabulous pair of shoes can just reduce me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/what-is-it-about-shoes-i-mean-i-like-most-kind-of-clothes-but-a/)

[Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/)

> [Hypebeasts want shoes just to say other people don't have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabolous/hypebeasts-want-shoes-just-to-say-other-people-don-t-have-them/)

Fabolous

> [But you'd have to walk a thousand miles In my shoes, just to see What it's like, to be me I'll be you, let's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/but-you-d-have-to-walk-a-thousand-miles-in-my-shoes-just-to-see-what/)

[Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/)

## More by Hartman Rector, Jr

> [I personally believe that the writing of personal and family histories will do more to turn the hearts of the children to the fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/i-personally-believe-that-the-writing-of-personal-and-family/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [Self-esteem is different than conceit. Conceit is the weirdest disease in the world. It makes everyone sick except the one who has it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/self-esteem-is-different-than-conceit-conceit-is-the-weirdest-disease/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [The Lord requires sacrifice, meaning something above and beyond the minimum. The Master spoke of the "second mile" and told us to go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/the-lord-requires-sacrifice-meaning-something-above-and-beyond-the/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [If you are worshipping false gods-such as football, baseball, gold, tennis, or money or technology or automobiles or houses or gold or silver-and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/if-you-are-worshipping-false-gods-such-as-football-baseball-gold/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [Surely, in the work of the Lord, it is what we do after we think we have done enough that really counts with him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/surely-in-the-work-of-the-lord-it-is-what-we-do-after-we-think-we/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [Mortality is, in reality, a very, very short period. It is literally a snap of the fingers compared to an eternity. It is so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/mortality-is-in-reality-a-very-very-short-period-it-is-literally-a/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [Generally speaking, "an eye single to the glory of God" means sacrifice. It means that instead of endlessly doing what we want to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/generally-speaking-an-eye-single-to-the-glory-of-god-means-sacrifice/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

> [Once baptized, we then receive the Holy Ghost, a special gift from God, which is priceless beyond expression. The Holy Ghost bears witness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/once-baptized-we-then-receive-the-holy-ghost-a-special-gift-from-god/)

[Hartman Rector, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

[Explore all 9 Hartman Rector, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/)

## More Attitude quotes

> [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/)

[MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/)

> [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/)

[Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/)

[Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/)

> [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/)

Isaiah Harden (Me

> [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/)

Sheye Hassan

> [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/)

[Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/)

> [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/)

[Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/)

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

> [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/)

[Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/)

> [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/)

[Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/)

> [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/)

[Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/)

> [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

[Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The optimist, as you probably know, is a person who, when he wears out his shoes, just figures he's back on his feet.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Hartman Rector, Jr"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-person-who-when-he-wears-out/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Attitude"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-person-who-when-he-wears-out/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/hartman-rector-jr-44697_attitude_the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-p_1958295.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/hartman-rector-jr-44697_attitude_the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-p_1958295.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23c/hartman-rector-jr-44697_attitude_the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-p_1958295.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The optimist, as you probably know, is a person who, when he wears out his shoes, just figures he's back on…” — Hartman Rector, Jr",
                "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": "Hartman Rector, Jr",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hartman-rector-jr/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The optimist, as you probably know,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-person-who-when-he-wears-out/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hartman-rector-jr/the-optimist-as-you-probably-know-is-a-person-who-when-he-wears-out/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
