--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By nature, I am not an optimist, though I…" description: "\"By nature, I am not an optimist, though I try to act as if I am.\" — Howard Gardner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/howard-gardner-3816_nature_by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i_3074574.jpg" --- # By nature, I am not an optimist, though I try to act as if… ![“By nature, I am not an optimist, though I try to act as if I am.” quote by Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/howard-gardner-3816_nature_by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i_3074574.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/howard-gardner-3816_nature_by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i_3074574.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/howard-gardner-3816_nature_by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i_3074574.jpg) > “By nature, I am not an optimist, though I try to act as if I am.” [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker acknowledges a natural pessimism but chooses to behave optimistically, highlighting the effort of mindset. **In simple terms:** I’m naturally pessimistic but act hopeful. Key Takeaway Choose optimism despite inner doubts. Themes mindset optimism self‑regulation resilience Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - personal development - leadership - team management - stress coping Key Concepts psychology cognitive flexibility behavioral choice Questions to Reflect On - How can you sustain hopeful behavior when you feel doubtful? - What benefits arise from acting optimistically? A Different Perspective Optimism may feel forced and unsustainable without genuine belief. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) ## Related quotes > [I'm an optimist - that's why I try to invent different systems; otherwise, I may as well stop right now. Sometimes I get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-gayet/i-m-an-optimist-that-s-why-i-try-to-invent-different-systems/) [Julie Gayet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-gayet/) > [I'm a big cockeyed optimist. I try to accentuate the positive as opposed to the negative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/i-m-a-big-cockeyed-optimist-i-try-to-accentuate-the-positive-as/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [I am by nature an optimist and by intellectual conviction a pessimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/i-am-by-nature-an-optimist-and-by-intellectual-conviction-a-pessimist/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [I am, by nature, an optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heinrich/i-am-by-nature-an-optimist/) [Martin Heinrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heinrich/) > [I'm quite an optimist, quite happy in life, quite smiley.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-hawkins/i-m-quite-an-optimist-quite-happy-in-life-quite-smiley/) [Sally Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-hawkins/) > [“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 am to positive to be doubtful too optimistic too be fearful and too determined too be defeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-to-positive-to-be-doubtful-too-optimistic-too-be-fearful-and-too/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Tried be cheerful, tried be upbeat, tried not to let my feelings show, not to blame him, not to mind when day after day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristan-higgins/tried-be-cheerful-tried-be-upbeat-tried-not-to-let-my-feelings-show/) [Kristan Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristan-higgins/) > [I am optimistic. But I also know that, with time, I'm beginning to fight issues of aging as well as long-term paralysis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/i-am-optimistic-but-i-also-know-that-with-time-i-m-beginning-to-fight/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Both my wife and I are optimists and we look at the positives in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-fogle/both-my-wife-and-i-are-optimists-and-we-look-at-the-positives-in-life/) [Ben Fogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-fogle/) > [I am an optimist, and I believe that people are inherently good and that if you give everyone a voice and freedom of expression,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-mullenweg/i-am-an-optimist-and-i-believe-that-people-are-inherently-good-and/) [Matt Mullenweg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-mullenweg/) > [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/) > [“Oh, it was wicked of me to make him the troublesome thing I was. He should stay always what he was, the happy-go-lucky cheerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-c-andrews/oh-it-was-wicked-of-me-to-make-him-the-troublesome-thing-i-was-he/) [V.C. Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-c-andrews/) > [I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/i-remain-an-eternal-optimist-about-love-i-believe-in-love/) [Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/) ## More by Howard Gardner > [Contradictory precepts that have guided me for as long as I can remember: 1: I will live forever. 2: I will die tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/contradictory-precepts-that-have-guided-me-for-as-long-as-i-can/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [I believe that the brain has evolved over millions of years to be responsive to different kinds of content in the world. Language content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/i-believe-that-the-brain-has-evolved-over-millions-of-years-to-be/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Emile Zola was a poor student at his school at Aix. We are all so different largely because we all have different combinations of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/emile-zola-was-a-poor-student-at-his-school-at-aix-we-are-all-so/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [We've got to do fewer things in school. The greatest enemy of understanding is coverage... You've got to take enough time to get kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/we-ve-got-to-do-fewer-things-in-school-the-greatest-enemy-of/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Students should learn about the long-standing values of truth, beauty, and goodness, think hard about them, and interrogate them skillfully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/students-should-learn-about-the-long-standing-values-of-truth-beauty/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [The problems in our educational system are indissociable from broader malignant trends in our society, and they can't be solved by lots of testing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/the-problems-in-our-educational-system-are-indissociable-from-broader/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Intelligence is the ability to find and solve problems and create products of value in one's own culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/intelligence-is-the-ability-to-find-and-solve-problems-and-create/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [To ask "Where in your brain is intelligence?" is like asking "Where is the voice in the radio?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/to-ask-where-in-your-brain-is-intelligence-is-like-asking-where-is/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [“Stories are the single most powerful weapon in a leader’s arsenal”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/stories-are-the-single-most-powerful-weapon-in-a-leader-s-arsenal/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [The biggest communities in which young people now reside are online communities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/the-biggest-communities-in-which-young-people-now-reside-are-online/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [If I know you're very good in music, I can predict with just about zero accuracy whether you're going to be good or bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/if-i-know-you-re-very-good-in-music-i-can-predict-with-just-about/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [Perhaps, indeed, there are no truly universal ethics: or to put it more precisely, the ways in which ethical principles are interpreted will inevitably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/perhaps-indeed-there-are-no-truly-universal-ethics-or-to-put-it-more/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [I favor a system where students in publicly funded institutions make a commitment: if they do well in the private sector, they will revert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/i-favor-a-system-where-students-in-publicly-funded-institutions-make/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [An individual understands a concept, skill, theory, or domain of knowledge to the extent that he or she can apply it appropriately in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/an-individual-understands-a-concept-skill-theory-or-domain-of/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) > [If we want to have good workers and good citizens, we need to create common spaces in which individuals can talk about the moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/if-we-want-to-have-good-workers-and-good-citizens-we-need-to-create/) [Howard Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) [Explore all 120 Howard Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/) ## More Nature quotes > [It is indeed a surprising and fortunate fact that nature can be expressed by relatively low-order mathematical functions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-carnap/it-is-indeed-a-surprising-and-fortunate-fact-that-nature-can-be/) [Rudolf Carnap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-carnap/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“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/) > [Borrow trouble for yourself, if that's your nature, but don't lend it to your neighbours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/borrow-trouble-for-yourself-if-that-s-your-nature-but-don-t-lend-it/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [There is no human nature, since there is no god to conceive it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/there-is-no-human-nature-since-there-is-no-god-to-conceive-it/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [“Men mistook measurement for understanding. And they always had to put themselves at the center of everything. That was their greatest conceit. The earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-harris/men-mistook-measurement-for-understanding-and-they-always-had-to-put/) [Robert Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-harris/) > [“She was, he knew- and had known very early, he supposed- one of those rare and always lovely humans whose moral nature was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-williams/she-was-he-knew-and-had-known-very-early-he-supposed-one-of-those/) [John Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-williams/) > [“When the water covers the earth the sun will vanish the darkess and the cold will come.When the last dragon and the last Elf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvana-de-mari/when-the-water-covers-the-earth-the-sun-will-vanish-the-darkess-and/) [Silvana de Mari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvana-de-mari/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [“It is not the force of the wind, but the depth of the roots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/it-is-not-the-force-of-the-wind-but-the-depth-of-the-roots/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) [Browse all 47,383 Nature quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By nature, I am not an optimist, though I try to act as if I am.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Gardner" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i-try-to-act-as-if-i-am/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Nature" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i-try-to-act-as-if-i-am/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/howard-gardner-3816_nature_by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i_3074574.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/howard-gardner-3816_nature_by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i_3074574.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/123/howard-gardner-3816_nature_by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i_3074574.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“By nature, I am not an optimist, though I try to act as if I am.” — Howard Gardner", "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": "Howard Gardner", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-gardner/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "By nature, I am not an...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i-try-to-act-as-if-i-am/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-gardner/by-nature-i-am-not-an-optimist-though-i-try-to-act-as-if-i-am/#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 } } ] } ```