Assuming Quote by Neil Gaiman
“It's astonishing how much trouble one can get oneself into, if one works at it. And astonishing how much trouble one can get oneself out of, if one assumes that everything will, somehow or other, work out for the best.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Neil Gaiman, 2014, The Guardian
Our choices can trap us, yet optimism can also free us; both are products of effort and mindset.
In simple terms: Hard work creates trouble; optimism can help escape it.
Key Takeaway
Balance effort with realistic optimism.
Themes
responsibility
optimism
consequences
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- career decisions
- relationships
- financial planning
Key Concepts
psychology
self‑efficacy
risk management
Questions to Reflect On
- When have you relied too much on optimism?
- What steps can you take to avoid self‑created trouble?
A Different Perspective
Optimism alone may ignore necessary corrective action.
![“The self is defined psychologically as the psychic totality of the individual. Anything that a [person] postulates as being a greater totality than [oneself] can become a symbol of the self. For this reason the symbol of the self is not always as total as the definition would require.” quote by Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/251/carl-jung-274_defined_the-self-is-defined-psychologically-as-t_7148.jpg)
![“[T]hey could not help being amused every time another little human believed itself the center of its world, as each of us does.” quote by Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19e/neil-gaiman-29_amused_t-hey-could-not-help-being-amused-every_4551.jpg)
