--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pessimism is a waste of time" description: "\"Pessimism is a waste of time\" — Norman Cousins" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/norman-cousins-2488_pessimism_pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time-576051_576051.png" --- # Pessimism is a waste of time ![“Pessimism is a waste of time” quote by Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/norman-cousins-2488_pessimism_pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time-576051_576051.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/norman-cousins-2488_pessimism_pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time-576051_576051.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/norman-cousins-2488_pessimism_pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time-576051_576051.png) > “Pessimism is a waste of time” [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pessimism wastes energy that could be used for constructive action. **In simple terms:** Pessimism wastes time. Key Takeaway Cultivate optimism to be productive. Themes mindset productivity health Mood hopeful reflective Type self‑help philosophical When to use this quote - personal goals - team projects - health recovery Key Concepts psychology positive thinking Questions to Reflect On - What habits foster optimism? - When is caution preferable? A Different Perspective Optimism may overlook real risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimism Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism-waste-4745214/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Waste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste/) [Waste of time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-of-time/) [Waste time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waste-time/) [Wasting time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wasting-time/) ## Related quotes > [Optimism doesn't wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/optimism-doesn-t-wait-on-facts-it-deals-with-prospects-pessimism-is-a/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [School was a waste of time for me. I was bored and left at 16. I started taking correspondence courses at college instead. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/school-was-a-waste-of-time-for-me-i-was-bored-and-left-at-16-i/) [Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/) > [But in that moment she realized how false most smiles were and what a tremendous waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/but-in-that-moment-she-realized-how-false-most-smiles-were-and-what-a/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [I'm trying to be present, not thinking and worrying about the past or the future. That's such a waste of time, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-stefani/i-m-trying-to-be-present-not-thinking-and-worrying-about-the-past-or/) [Gwen Stefani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-stefani/) > [My daughters had helped me to stop worrying about my appearance over the years. I wasted so many years thinking I wasn't pretty enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-daughters-had-helped-me-to-stop-worrying-about-my-appearance-over/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Prayer is to the skeptic a delusion, a waste of time. To the believer it represents perhaps the most important use of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/prayer-is-to-the-skeptic-a-delusion-a-waste-of-time-to-the-believer/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [I never analyze it. Analyzing it would just be a waste of time. I just go out and do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/i-never-analyze-it-analyzing-it-would-just-be-a-waste-of-time-i-just/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Knowledge for its own sake was meaningless, its mere accumulation a waste of time. Knowledge must lead to understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-finley/knowledge-for-its-own-sake-was-meaningless-its-mere-accumulation-a/) [Moses Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-finley/) > [Blame is a waste of time. No matter how much fault you find with another, it will not change you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/blame-is-a-waste-of-time-no-matter-how-much-fault-you-find-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is a waste of time to dissipate one's moral zeal in disapproving of royal persons who have mistresses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/it-is-a-waste-of-time-to-dissipate-one-s-moral-zeal-in-disapproving/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [the fact is, that life is too short to be occupied by aught but the present - hope and remembrance are equally a waste…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/the-fact-is-that-life-is-too-short-to-be-occupied-by-aught-but-the/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [it is a waste of time to ask more of people than they have to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-halsey/it-is-a-waste-of-time-to-ask-more-of-people-than-they-have-to-give/) [Margaret Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-halsey/) > [Regret is an appalling waste of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-mansfield/regret-is-an-appalling-waste-of-time/) [Katherine Mansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-mansfield/) > [There is no bigger waste of time than doing 90% of what is necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/there-is-no-bigger-waste-of-time-than-doing-90-of-what-is-necessary/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Trying to find this industry's tendency to celebrate the physical is a waste of time. So I'm happy to play the game. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/trying-to-find-this-industry-s-tendency-to-celebrate-the-physical-is/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) ## More by Norman Cousins > [The poet reminds men of their uniqueness and it is not necessary to possess the ultimate definition of this uniqueness. Even to speculate is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-poet-reminds-men-of-their-uniqueness-and-it-is-not-necessary-to/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Unobstructed access to facts can produce unlimited good only if it is matched by the desire and ability to find out what they mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/unobstructed-access-to-facts-can-produce-unlimited-good-only-if-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What was significant about the laughter . . . was not just the fact that it provides internal exercise for a person . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-was-significant-about-the-laughter-was-not-just-the-fact-that-it/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [You are younger today than you will ever be again. Make use of it for the sake of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/you-are-younger-today-than-you-will-ever-be-again-make-use-of-it-for/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [On the quality of life: #1. Realize that each human being has a built-in capacity for recuperation and repair. #2. Recognize that the quality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/on-the-quality-of-life-1-realize-that-each-human-being-has-a-built-in/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [What a man really says when he says that someone else can be persuaded by force, is that he himself is incapable of more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/what-a-man-really-says-when-he-says-that-someone-else-can-be/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The starting point for a better world is the belief that it is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-starting-point-for-a-better-world-is-the-belief-that-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The physician knows that his little black bag can carry him only so far and that the body's own healing system is the main…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-physician-knows-that-his-little-black-bag-can-carry-him-only-so/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [We are wide-eyed in contemplating the possibility that life may exist elsewhere in the universe, but we wear blinders when contemplating the possibilities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/we-are-wide-eyed-in-contemplating-the-possibility-that-life-may-exist/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The essence of man is imperfection. Failure is simply a price we pay to achieve success. If we learn to embrace that new definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-essence-of-man-is-imperfection-failure-is-simply-a-price-we-pay/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [My reason nourishes my faith and my faith my reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/my-reason-nourishes-my-faith-and-my-faith-my-reason/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [The growth of the human mind is still high adventure, in many ways the highest adventure on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-growth-of-the-human-mind-is-still-high-adventure-in-many-ways-the/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Death is not the enemy; living in constant fear of it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/death-is-not-the-enemy-living-in-constant-fear-of-it-is/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [All this sensory input, which begins in the brain, has its effect throughout the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/all-this-sensory-input-which-begins-in-the-brain-has-its-effect/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) > [Humanity today is not safe in the presence of humanity. The old cannibalism has given way to anonymous action in which the killer and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/humanity-today-is-not-safe-in-the-presence-of-humanity-the-old/) [Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) [Explore all 162 Norman Cousins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/) ## More Pessimism quotes > [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/) [Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/) > [Only love can vanquish hate, the same way that only light can vanquish darkness. You cant fight negativity with more negativity; you must fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/only-love-can-vanquish-hate-the-same-way-that-only-light-can-vanquish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When life hands you lemons, you squirt them in the eye, than yell that you wanted limes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-day/when-life-hands-you-lemons-you-squirt-them-in-the-eye-than-yell-that/) [Amanda Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-day/) > [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/) > [I'm not cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-not-cynical/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [More exposure leads to more judgment and negativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/more-exposure-leads-to-more-judgment-and-negativity/) [Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/) > [In the end, the whole Internet thing kills me, because you can use it as a positive thing or you can read into all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-sixx/in-the-end-the-whole-internet-thing-kills-me-because-you-can-use-it/) [Nikki Sixx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-sixx/) > [“The mass of men have been forced to be gay about the little things, but sad about the big ones. Nevertheless (I offer my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/the-mass-of-men-have-been-forced-to-be-gay-about-the-little-things/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [“How little one is justified in speaking in this connection of "optimism" and "pessimism" and how much the characterization of liberalism as "optimistic" aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/how-little-one-is-justified-in-speaking-in-this-connection-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [“She gave up trying to understand herself, and the vast armies of the benighted, who follow neither the heart nor the brain, and march…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster-2/she-gave-up-trying-to-understand-herself-and-the-vast-armies-of-the/) [E.M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster-2/) > [There have been times when a particularly heavy dose of such cynicism has caused me to reflect that surely this is the age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-have-been-times-when-a-particularly-heavy-dose-of-such-cynicism/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/cynicism-masquerades-as-wisdom-but-it-is-the-farthest-thing-from-it/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [I thought all my life that optimists and pessimists pass away the same way, so why be a pessimist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-thought-all-my-life-that-optimists-and-pessimists-pass-away-the/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-give-in-to-pessimism-to-that-bitterness-that-the-devil/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [I definitely grew up on Garfield. I just loved his pessimism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/el-p/i-definitely-grew-up-on-garfield-i-just-loved-his-pessimism/) [El-P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/el-p/) [Browse all 2,300 Pessimism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pessimism is a waste of time", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norman Cousins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Pessimism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/norman-cousins-2488_pessimism_pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time-576051_576051.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/norman-cousins-2488_pessimism_pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time-576051_576051.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/851/norman-cousins-2488_pessimism_pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time-576051_576051.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pessimism is a waste of time” — Norman Cousins", "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": "Norman Cousins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pessimism is a waste of time", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/pessimism-is-a-waste-of-time/#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 } } ] } ```