--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism…" description: "\"Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away in the Nineveh..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/neal-a-maxwell-925_avoided_naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-a_44862.png" --- # Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be… ![“Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away in the Ninevehs of our lives without being so conscious of the coming cataclysm that we are not serious citizens of our communities and nations. By living and…” quote by Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/neal-a-maxwell-925_avoided_naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-a_44862.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/neal-a-maxwell-925_avoided_naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-a_44862.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/neal-a-maxwell-925_avoided_naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-a_44862.png) > “Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away in the Ninevehs of our lives without being so conscious of the coming cataclysm that we are not serious citizens of our communities and nations. By living and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are doing the most relevant thing we can do by way of helping. (There are civic and other chores to be done, of course.) Day in and day out, the gospel is the one thing that is most relevant, and we are to be of good cheer.” [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates a balanced worldview avoiding extreme optimism or pessimism, emphasizing that Christian faith should guide daily life while still engaging in civic responsibilities. **In simple terms:** Balanced faith with civic duty Key Takeaway Faith informs responsible living Themes faith civic responsibility balance optimism pessimism Mood hopeful reflective determined Type inspirational didactic When to use this quote - personal decisionmaking - community service - public policy - interpersonal relationships Key Concepts gospel community serious citizenship Practical Applications - spiritual counseling - civic engagement initiatives Questions to Reflect On - How does one maintain hope without ignoring challenges? - In what ways can faith inspire civic participation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoided/) [Balance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/balance/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheer/) [Chores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chores/) [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Civics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civics/) [Community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/community/) [Conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Good cheer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-cheer/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus/) [Jesus christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jesus-christ/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Naive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naive/) [Naive Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naive-optimism-661822/) [Nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nations/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Optimism Pervasive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism-pervasive-661821/) [Our community](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-community/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Pervasive Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pervasive-pessimism-661824/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimism Avoided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism-avoided-661823/) [Relevant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relevant/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Sharing the gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharing-the-gospel/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It is understandable how some people could give way to this kind of pervasive pessimism, but we speak of a gospel which brings good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/it-is-understandable-how-some-people-could-give-way-to-this-kind-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“Unrealistic optimism is a pervasive feature of human life; it characterizes most people in most social categories. When they overestimate their personal immunity from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/unrealistic-optimism-is-a-pervasive-feature-of-human-life-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Although my mom and I had often disagreed politically and personally, she'd led our family by example, instilling in us a can-do attitude that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/although-my-mom-and-i-had-often-disagreed-politically-and-personally/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [It's not such a bad thing to bring some naive optimism to Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/it-s-not-such-a-bad-thing-to-bring-some-naive-optimism-to-washington/) [Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/) > [ The key \[to sharing the gospel\] is that you be inspired of God, that you ask Him for direction and then go and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/the-key-to-sharing-the-gospel-is-that-you-be-inspired-of-god-that-you/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [“Our stories hold unique inspiration for one another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/our-stories-hold-unique-inspiration-for-one-another/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Opportunities for sharing the gospel are everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/opportunities-for-sharing-the-gospel-are-everywhere/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Actually, having a few questions of your own shouldn't prevent you from sharing the gospel with others. You can explain to them that while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/actually-having-a-few-questions-of-your-own-shouldn-t-prevent-you/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“There is a core difference between sharing the gospel with the lost and imposing a specific moral standard on the unconverted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosaria-champagne-butterfield/there-is-a-core-difference-between-sharing-the-gospel-with-the-lost/) [Rosaria Champagne Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosaria-champagne-butterfield/) > [Anyone wanting to proclaim the glory of Christ to the ends of the earth must consider not only how to declare the gospel verbally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-platt/anyone-wanting-to-proclaim-the-glory-of-christ-to-the-ends-of-the/) [David Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-platt/) > [God's plan for enlarging His kingdom is so simple - one person telling another about the Savior. Yet we're busy and full of excuses.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/god-s-plan-for-enlarging-his-kingdom-is-so-simple-one-person-telling/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [We mustn't be content to just sit around pointing out the errors in others; we actually need to be sharing the gospel and praying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/we-mustn-t-be-content-to-just-sit-around-pointing-out-the-errors-in/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [“The power of God has never left His Word; it is just that we have prevented it from reaching its intended destination. The more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-yen-a-gardner/the-power-of-god-has-never-left-his-word-it-is-just-that-we-have/) [E'yen A. Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-yen-a-gardner/) > [The church as a whole has strayed quite far from biblical evangelism; that is, sharing the Gospel in the way that Jesus did, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cameron/the-church-as-a-whole-has-strayed-quite-far-from-biblical-evangelism/) [Kirk Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cameron/) > [Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/go-therefore-and-make-disciples-of-all-the-nations/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) ## More by Neal A. Maxwell > [Clearly, when we baptize, our eyes should gaze beyond the baptismal font to the holy temple. The great garner into which the sheaves should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/clearly-when-we-baptize-our-eyes-should-gaze-beyond-the-baptismal/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We should not assume; however, that just because something is unexplainable by us, it is unexplainable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-should-not-assume-however-that-just-because-something-is/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Occasionally some individuals let the seeming ordinariness of life dampen their spirits. Though actually coping and growning, others lack the quiet, inner-soul satisfaction that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/occasionally-some-individuals-let-the-seeming-ordinariness-of-life/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The acceptance of the reality that we are in the Lord's loving hands is only a recognition that we have never really been anywhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-acceptance-of-the-reality-that-we-are-in-the-lord-s-loving-hands/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [We can't dwell upon another's ingratitude without using up our time and talents unprofitably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/we-can-t-dwell-upon-another-s-ingratitude-without-using-up-our-time/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The winds of tribulation, which blow out some men's candles of commitment, only fan the fires of faith of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-winds-of-tribulation-which-blow-out-some-men-s-candles-of/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Power is most safe with those who are not in love with it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/power-is-most-safe-with-those-who-are-not-in-love-with-it/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Ultimate hope constitutes the anchor of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/ultimate-hope-constitutes-the-anchor-of-the-soul/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Frequently, we busily search for group service projects, which are surely needed and commendable, when quiet, personal service is also urgently needed. Sometimes the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/frequently-we-busily-search-for-group-service-projects-which-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [The cumulative weight of all mortal sins--past, present, and future--pressed upon that perfect, sinless, and sensitive Soul! All our infirmities and sicknesses were somehow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-cumulative-weight-of-all-mortal-sins-past-present-and-future/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [“When we feel so alone, we cannot presume to teach him who, at the apogee of his agony, trod “the winepress alone” anything about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/when-we-feel-so-alone-we-cannot-presume-to-teach-him-who-at-the/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [How myopic it is to view His ministry as all crucifixion and no resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/how-myopic-it-is-to-view-his-ministry-as-all-crucifixion-and-no/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/patience-stoutly-resists-pulling-up-the-daisies-to-see-how-the-roots/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our little pebble of poor performance helps to start, or to sustain, an avalanche.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-little-pebble-of-poor-performance-helps-to-start-or-to-sustain-an/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Our inspired Constitution is wisely designed to protect from excesses of political power, but it can do little to protect us from the excesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/our-inspired-constitution-is-wisely-designed-to-protect-from-excesses/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) [Explore all 328 Neal A. Maxwell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) ## More Avoided quotes > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) > [Among many other weighty objections to the Measure, it has been suggested, that it has a tendency to introduce religious disputes into the Army,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/among-many-other-weighty-objections-to-the-measure-it-has-been/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Poetry in love is no more to be avoided than jealousy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/poetry-in-love-is-no-more-to-be-avoided-than-jealousy/) [William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/) > [“war is not so to be avoided, but is only deferred to your disadvantage”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/war-is-not-so-to-be-avoided-but-is-only-deferred-to-your-disadvantage/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I read actual physical books and have thus far avoided the electronic lure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/i-read-actual-physical-books-and-have-thus-far-avoided-the-electronic/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [Usually I avoided college students, whom I considered brutal, wrapped up in themselves, particularly in their youth, in which they found material for drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/usually-i-avoided-college-students-whom-i-considered-brutal-wrapped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Specialness as a primary mode of death transcendence takes a number of other maladaptive forms. The drive for power is not uncommonly motivated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-d-yalom/specialness-as-a-primary-mode-of-death-transcendence-takes-a-number/) [Irvin D. Yalom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-d-yalom/) > [I've always avoided publicity. I've never been good copy at any stage of my life. I don't strive for it, because I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-noll/i-ve-always-avoided-publicity-i-ve-never-been-good-copy-at-any-stage/) [Chuck Noll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-noll/) > [“Adversity Isn’t to Be Avoided”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-anthony-smith/adversity-isn-t-to-be-avoided/) [Miles Anthony Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-anthony-smith/) > [If in the words which the Secretary of State has just used, the use of a nuclear weapon is to be avoided 'at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/if-in-the-words-which-the-secretary-of-state-has-just-used-the-use-of/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [I've created a narrative of the world. I live in the world - tenuously, most times. I've avoided the digital world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-ellroy/i-ve-created-a-narrative-of-the-world-i-live-in-the-world-tenuously/) [James Ellroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-ellroy/) > [Against specious appearances we must set clear convictions, bright and ready for use. When death appears as an evil, we ought immediately to remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/against-specious-appearances-we-must-set-clear-convictions-bright-and/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Pound had argued - and Eliot had helped him prove - that a poem could be sustained by memorable moments. Olson proved that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-james/pound-had-argued-and-eliot-had-helped-him-prove-that-a-poem-could-be/) [Clive James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-james/) > [Never inject a man into the top, if it can be avoided. In a big organization, to have to do that, I think, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-p-sloan/never-inject-a-man-into-the-top-if-it-can-be-avoided-in-a-big/) [Alfred P. Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-p-sloan/) > [The cost of an on-site inspection team would be minuscule compared to war, Saddam would have no choice except to comply, the results would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/the-cost-of-an-on-site-inspection-team-would-be-minuscule-compared-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) [Browse all 470 Avoided quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoided/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to maintain, to be asked to work away in the Ninevehs of our lives without being so conscious of the coming cataclysm that we are not serious citizens of our communities and nations. By living and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are doing the most relevant thing we can do by way of helping. (There are civic and other chores to be done, of course.) Day in and day out, the gospel is the one thing that is most relevant, and we are to be of good cheer.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neal A. Maxwell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Avoided" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/neal-a-maxwell-925_avoided_naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-a_44862.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/neal-a-maxwell-925_avoided_naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-a_44862.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8c1/neal-a-maxwell-925_avoided_naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-a_44862.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are both to be avoided, therefore. It's not an easy balance to…” — Neal A. Maxwell", "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": "Neal A. Maxwell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Naive optimism and pervasive pessimism are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/naive-optimism-and-pervasive-pessimism-are-both-to-be-avoided/#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 } } ] } ```