Anticipation Quote by Robert Breault
“The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser - in case you thought optimism was dead In fact maybe there is a lesson there for how we should approach the future...with fourteen parts optimism - anticipating what could go right and the benefits - and one part pessimism - anticipating what could go wrong so we can avoid them.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Personal development blog, 2021
Optimism should be mostly present, but a small portion of pessimism helps anticipate problems and avoid them, creating a balanced outlook.
In simple terms: Mostly optimism with some pessimism for safety.
Key Takeaway
Balance hope with realistic caution.
Themes
optimism
pessimism
balance
future planning
Mood
thoughtful
balanced
Type
motivational
practical
When to use this quote
- career planning
- investment decisions
- health goals
- project management
Key Concepts
risk assessment
positive psychology
strategic foresight
Questions to Reflect On
- How much pessimism is healthy for you?
- When should you lean more on optimism?
A Different Perspective
Too much pessimism can stifle initiative.
![“[It is hard to know what is good luck and what isn't and therefore whether we should be happy or sad about it. Only time will tell. For example...] The Talmud relates a story about two people who wanted to travel by boat. One broke his foot and was unable to make the trip, while his friend got on…” quote by Zelig Pliskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/68d/zelig-pliskin-22951_anticipation_it-is-hard-to-know-what-is-good-luck-and_34545.jpg)
![“The only thing is that ordinarily when I do dance with [women] they think I am suddenly going to throw them over a table or twist them all around. All I want to do is one-two, one-two-three - a simple fox trot. But they're shaking with anticipation at the thought that I'm about to whip them around…” quote by Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/073/gene-kelly-11878_anticipation_the-only-thing-is-that-ordinarily-when-i_44100.jpg)
