--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I'm only a cockeyed optimist." description: "\"But I'm only a cockeyed optimist.\" — Oscar Hammerstein II" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_optimism_but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist-3149778_3149778.png" --- # But I'm only a cockeyed optimist. ![“But I'm only a cockeyed optimist.” quote by Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_optimism_but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist-3149778_3149778.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_optimism_but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist-3149778_3149778.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_optimism_but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist-3149778_3149778.png) > “But I'm only a cockeyed optimist.” [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimism persists despite seeing only the bright side. **In simple terms:** Optimism can be naive but hopeful. Key Takeaway Embrace hope while staying realistic. Themes optimism naivety hope perspective Mood hopeful reflective inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal setbacks - team morale - public speaking - creative projects Key Concepts positive psychology cognitive bias resilience Questions to Reflect On - When does optimism become denial? - How can you balance optimism with realism? A Different Perspective Blind optimism may ignore real risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cockeyed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cockeyed-302270/) [Cockeyed Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cockeyed-optimist-302268/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) ## Related quotes > [“One more cockeyed optimist thrown under the reality bus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-coonts/one-more-cockeyed-optimist-thrown-under-the-reality-bus/) [Deborah Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-coonts/) > [I really am a cockeyed optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-lawrence/i-really-am-a-cockeyed-optimist/) [Vicki Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vicki-lawrence/) > [It's still possible to be a cockeyed optimist these days - you just have to be a little more cockeyed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/it-s-still-possible-to-be-a-cockeyed-optimist-these-days-you-just/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [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/) > [“A cocket gal and a cockeyed guy should not go to a cocktail lounge, they should get to the cockaigne.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/a-cocket-gal-and-a-cockeyed-guy-should-not-go-to-a-cocktail-lounge/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [“Being cocket or cockeyed is being cockamamie.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/being-cocket-or-cockeyed-is-being-cockamamie/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [But black folks have never really been optimists. We've been prisoners of hope, and hope is qualitatively different from optimism in the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/but-black-folks-have-never-really-been-optimists-we-ve-been-prisoners/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [An optimist is a fellow who believes a housefly is looking for a way to get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-jean-nathan/an-optimist-is-a-fellow-who-believes-a-housefly-is-looking-for-a-way/) [George Jean Nathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-jean-nathan/) > [In this world, the optimists have it, not because they are always right, but because they are positive. Even when they are wrong they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-landes/in-this-world-the-optimists-have-it-not-because-they-are-always-right/) [David Landes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-landes/) > [I am by nature a worried optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-am-by-nature-a-worried-optimist/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [An Optimist Is A Person Who Starts A Crossword Puzzle With A Fountain Pen...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/an-optimist-is-a-person-who-starts-a-crossword-puzzle-with-a-fountain/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) > [An optimist is a man who plants two acorns and buys a hammock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-lattre-de-tassigny/an-optimist-is-a-man-who-plants-two-acorns-and-buys-a-hammock/) [Jean de Lattre de Tassigny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-lattre-de-tassigny/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) ## More by Oscar Hammerstein II > [Why you were born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/why-you-were-born-and-why-you-are-living-depend-entirely-on-what-you/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Be brave, young lovers, and follow your star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/be-brave-young-lovers-and-follow-your-star/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Some enchanted evening, you may see a stranger Across a crowded room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/some-enchanted-evening-you-may-see-a-stranger-across-a-crowded-room/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [For when I fool the people I fear, I fool myself as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/for-when-i-fool-the-people-i-fear-i-fool-myself-as-well/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [“The last time I saw Paris. Her heart was warm and gay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/the-last-time-i-saw-paris-her-heart-was-warm-and-gay/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [A bell's not a bell 'til you ring it, A song's not a song 'til you sing it, Love in your heart wasn't put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/a-bell-s-not-a-bell-til-you-ring-it-a-song-s-not-a-song-til-you-sing/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [It is a modern tragedy that despair has so many spokesmen, and hope so few.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/it-is-a-modern-tragedy-that-despair-has-so-many-spokesmen-and-hope-so/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/walk-on-walk-on-with-hope-in-your-heart/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [These are a few of my favorite things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/these-are-a-few-of-my-favorite-things/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Oklahoma Where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/oklahoma-where-the-wind-comes-sweepin-down-the-plain/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/when-the-dog-bites-when-the-bee-stings-when-i-m-feeling-sad-i-simply/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [Hello, Young Lovers, Wherever You Are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/hello-young-lovers-wherever-you-are/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [You've got to be taught to be afraid Of people whose eyes are oddly made, Of people whose skin is a different shade. You've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/you-ve-got-to-be-taught-to-be-afraid-of-people-whose-eyes-are-oddly/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [I'd let my golden chances pass me by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/i-d-let-my-golden-chances-pass-me-by/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) > [There is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/there-is-a-very-real-relationship-both-quantitatively-and/) [Oscar Hammerstein II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) [Explore all 45 Oscar Hammerstein II quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/) ## More Optimism quotes > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [The late 1990s were really a moment of still tremendous hope and optimism about the relationship between Russia and the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/the-late-1990s-were-really-a-moment-of-still-tremendous-hope-and/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) > [Wherever I go I'm always wearing my smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/wherever-i-go-i-m-always-wearing-my-smile/) [Ewshy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshy/) > [If you can find as much happiness at the bottom of the ladder of success as you can at the top, then you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/if-you-can-find-as-much-happiness-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-of/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Hope is not mere optimism; rather, it is moving forward in anticipation of redemption in spite of the improbability of rescue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/hope-is-not-mere-optimism-rather-it-is-moving-forward-in-anticipation/) [Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [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/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your-energy/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [“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/) > [Optimism. It's not just a mind-set, it is behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/optimism-it-s-not-just-a-mind-set-it-is-behavior/) [Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/) > [“There are five important things for living a successful and fulfilling life: never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/there-are-five-important-things-for-living-a-successful-and/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [Lifes difficulties can seem overwhelming, and you may face times when problems seem encompassing. Dont look back at what youve lost, for the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lifes-difficulties-can-seem-overwhelming-and-you-may-face-times-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,625 Optimism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "But I'm only a cockeyed optimist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Oscar Hammerstein II" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Optimism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_optimism_but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist-3149778_3149778.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_optimism_but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist-3149778_3149778.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d12/oscar-hammerstein-ii-14802_optimism_but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist-3149778_3149778.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But I'm only a cockeyed optimist.” — Oscar Hammerstein II", "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": "Oscar Hammerstein II", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-hammerstein-ii/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "But I'm only a cockeyed optimist.", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-hammerstein-ii/but-i-m-only-a-cockeyed-optimist/#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 } } ] } ```