--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Almost everyone is overconfident--except…" description: "\"“Almost everyone is overconfident--except the people who are depressed, and they tend to be realists.”\" — Joseph T. Hallinan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/joseph-t-hallinan-83991_confidence_almost-everyone-is-overconfident-except_2644759.jpg" --- # Almost everyone is overconfident--except the people who… ![“Almost everyone is overconfident--except the people who are depressed, and they tend to be realists.” quote by Joseph T. Hallinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/joseph-t-hallinan-83991_confidence_almost-everyone-is-overconfident-except_2644759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/joseph-t-hallinan-83991_confidence_almost-everyone-is-overconfident-except_2644759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/joseph-t-hallinan-83991_confidence_almost-everyone-is-overconfident-except_2644759.jpg) > ““Almost everyone is overconfident--except the people who are depressed, and they tend to be realists.”” Joseph T. Hallinan ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Most people are overconfident; depressed individuals tend toward realism, highlighting a paradox in self‑assessment. **In simple terms:** Overconfidence is common; depression may bring realism. Key Takeaway Recognize bias in self‑evaluation. Themes psychology confidence mental health Mood empathetic insightful Type psychological sociological When to use this quote - career planning - therapy - coaching Key Concepts self‑assessment bias realism vs optimism Questions to Reflect On - How does mood affect confidence? - What strategies improve accurate self‑perception? A Different Perspective Labeling depression as “realistic” can stigmatize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Overconfident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overconfident/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [A new study found that people who are depressed have a greater risk of stroke. Well that should cheer them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/a-new-study-found-that-people-who-are-depressed-have-a-greater-risk/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I know a lot of people who are depressed, and they walk around, and they're smiling every day, but no one's asking them how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-know-a-lot-of-people-who-are-depressed-and-they-walk-around-and/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [A lot of people who are depressed, I think, are suffering from blocked creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-califia/a-lot-of-people-who-are-depressed-i-think-are-suffering-from-blocked/) [Patrick Califia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-califia/) > [If someone is depressed they tend to retreat within the inner circle of their comfort zone which in the longer term, may contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-perry/if-someone-is-depressed-they-tend-to-retreat-within-the-inner-circle/) [Philippa Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-perry/) > [“When you feel depressed, you tend to look down. Look up at the point where earthly objects meet the sky. You will feel powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunya/when-you-feel-depressed-you-tend-to-look-down-look-up-at-the-point/) [Shunya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunya/) > [“For people who are depressed, and especially for those who do not receive enough benefit from medication of for whom the side effects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/for-people-who-are-depressed-and-especially-for-those-who-do-not/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [People are depressed for many reasons, one of which I think is how we have been taught to react to trauma, to stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-zambreno/people-are-depressed-for-many-reasons-one-of-which-i-think-is-how-we/) [Kate Zambreno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-zambreno/) > [The one thing we do know is that the chemical imbalance theory - the theory that people get depressed when they don't have enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/the-one-thing-we-do-know-is-that-the-chemical-imbalance-theory-the/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [“The only thing that consoles me is to be surrounded by people as depressed as I am. The readers down here, they're seriously depressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-divry/the-only-thing-that-consoles-me-is-to-be-surrounded-by-people-as/) [Sophie Divry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-divry/) > [In America people get depressed for no reason. They say, 'I'm sad my boyfriend didn't call me.' I tell them, 'How would you like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia-soare/in-america-people-get-depressed-for-no-reason-they-say-i-m-sad-my/) [Anastasia Soare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia-soare/) > [The political system is broken, the economy is broken and so is society. That is why people are so depressed about the state of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cameron/the-political-system-is-broken-the-economy-is-broken-and-so-is/) [David Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cameron/) > [Somehow, like so many people who get depressed, we felt our depressions were more complicated and existentially based than they actually were.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-redfield-jamison/somehow-like-so-many-people-who-get-depressed-we-felt-our-depressions/) [Kay Redfield Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-redfield-jamison/) > [“Owen: depressed people don't have the energy to kill themselves. that's what mr clark said Owen: he said it's not when people are depressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-borris/owen-depressed-people-don-t-have-the-energy-to-kill-themselves-that-s/) [Albert Borris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-borris/) > [People become depressed when they neglect their spiritual practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dharma-mittra/people-become-depressed-when-they-neglect-their-spiritual-practice/) [Dharma Mittra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dharma-mittra/) > [“If a country is governed with repression, the people are depressed and crafty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-te-ching/if-a-country-is-governed-with-repression-the-people-are-depressed-and/) [Tao Te Ching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-te-ching/) ## More by Joseph T. Hallinan > [“As a general principle, people feel more responsible for their actions than they do for their inactions. If we are going to err at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-t-hallinan/as-a-general-principle-people-feel-more-responsible-for-their-actions/) Joseph T. Hallinan > [“Nearly eighty years of research on answer changing shows that most answer changes are from wrong to right, and that most people who change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-t-hallinan/nearly-eighty-years-of-research-on-answer-changing-shows-that-most/) Joseph T. Hallinan Explore all 3 Joseph T. Hallinan quotes ## More Confidence quotes > [The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/the-cia-has-concluded-in-a-secret-assessment-that-russia-intervened/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I was just confident my work was good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bunny-yeager/i-was-just-confident-my-work-was-good/) [Bunny Yeager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bunny-yeager/) > [I am confident when I take the penalty otherwise I would pass for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-am-confident-when-i-take-the-penalty-otherwise-i-would-pass-for/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [My friend made me a leather dress for the MTV awards. It gives you confidence, wearing something you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-deeley/my-friend-made-me-a-leather-dress-for-the-mtv-awards-it-gives-you/) [Cat Deeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-deeley/) > [Confidence comes from cutting yourself some slack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tess-daly/confidence-comes-from-cutting-yourself-some-slack/) [Tess Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tess-daly/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [You want to remain hungry and stay in a good place as a competitor; at the same time, you want to be confident but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lamar-odom/you-want-to-remain-hungry-and-stay-in-a-good-place-as-a-competitor-at/) [Lamar Odom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lamar-odom/) > [Get to know yourself well enough to not only expect, but also control, your response to the unexpected challenges in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/get-to-know-yourself-well-enough-to-not-only-expect-but-also-control/) Senoraroy > [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [I look for someone who has confidence. Also someone whose energetic, cause I'm NOT that energetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/i-look-for-someone-who-has-confidence-also-someone-whose-energetic/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [Why shouldn't I be confident? I'm well educated, I can deliver a line, and I have more than three expressions. That's good right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonakshi-sinha/why-shouldn-t-i-be-confident-i-m-well-educated-i-can-deliver-a-line/) [Sonakshi Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonakshi-sinha/) > [I was very confident on the stage, and I stood out in a red gown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-johnson/i-was-very-confident-on-the-stage-and-i-stood-out-in-a-red-gown/) [Nicole Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-johnson/) > [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) [Browse all 11,290 Confidence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Almost everyone is overconfident--except the people who are depressed, and they tend to be realists.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph T. 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