--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I guess the optimistic thing is that…" description: "\"I guess the optimistic thing is that those people in Congress who are climate deniers, I think their time has run out.\" — Robert Redford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/robert-redford-1707_climate_i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-tho_595319.png" --- # I guess the optimistic thing is that those people in… ![“I guess the optimistic thing is that those people in Congress who are climate deniers, I think their time has run out.” quote by Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/robert-redford-1707_climate_i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-tho_595319.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/robert-redford-1707_climate_i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-tho_595319.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/robert-redford-1707_climate_i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-tho_595319.png) > “I guess the optimistic thing is that those people in Congress who are climate deniers, I think their time has run out.” [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimism that climate‑denying legislators are losing influence as public pressure mounts. **In simple terms:** Climate deniers are losing power. Key Takeaway Support policies that hold leaders accountable. Themes politics environment optimism Mood hopeful urgent Type political activist When to use this quote - elections - activism - legislative hearings Key Concepts public opinion policy change Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens accelerate political accountability? - What role does media play in exposing denial? A Different Perspective Change may be slower than hoped. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Optimistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimistic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I like to keep working and keep changing. It's a hopeful, optimistic thing to think and sit about what you could do next. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-ervin-beam/i-like-to-keep-working-and-keep-changing-it-s-a-hopeful-optimistic/) [Samuel Ervin Beam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-ervin-beam/) > [Particularly at the moment, it's an incredibly optimistic thing to bring children into the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/particularly-at-the-moment-it-s-an-incredibly-optimistic-thing-to/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [“Putting up food is, at its heart, an optimistic thing. It’s a bold way to say: I will be sticking around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novella-carpenter/putting-up-food-is-at-its-heart-an-optimistic-thing-it-s-a-bold-way/) [Novella Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novella-carpenter/) > [The most optimistic thing that's happened is that as a society we're beginning to recognize that there are many voices. When I began, thirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-ewald/the-most-optimistic-thing-that-s-happened-is-that-as-a-society-we-re/) Wendy Ewald > [My parents said marrying was an optimistic thing to do in pessimistic times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/my-parents-said-marrying-was-an-optimistic-thing-to-do-in-pessimistic/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [Climate deniers are clearly the fringe group and need to see a proctologist to find their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/climate-deniers-are-clearly-the-fringe-group-and-need-to-see-a/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [If Republicans start losing their seats because they're climate deniers, that is a very salutary signal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/if-republicans-start-losing-their-seats-because-they-re-climate/) [Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/) > [Climate deniers are less immoral than Holocaust deniers, although they are undoubtedly more dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-hamilton/climate-deniers-are-less-immoral-than-holocaust-deniers-although-they/) [Clive Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-hamilton/) > [Well, I think of the folks who are the climate deniers as the flat Earthers and the people who say the moon landings never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/well-i-think-of-the-folks-who-are-the-climate-deniers-as-the-flat/) [Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/) > [Climate change should not fundamentally be seen as a political or partisan issue, but it has been turned into a political football primarily by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-balog/climate-change-should-not-fundamentally-be-seen-as-a-political-or/) [James Balog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-balog/) > [I think the days of the climate deniers are over. To deny basic science is to risk the trust of the general public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-steyer/i-think-the-days-of-the-climate-deniers-are-over-to-deny-basic/) [Tom Steyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-steyer/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [No matter how unusual a personality may be who gets elected to office, there are constraints in this country. You don't get to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/no-matter-how-unusual-a-personality-may-be-who-gets-elected-to-office/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Being positive helps you to keep away negative thoughts. And helps you to stand in adverse circumstances with the hope that in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/being-positive-helps-you-to-keep-away-negative-thoughts-and-helps-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [People in great groups have blinders on. Their work is all they see. They value failures as learning opportunities. They are optimistic, not realistic,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/people-in-great-groups-have-blinders-on-their-work-is-all-they-see/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) ## More by Robert Redford > [When I became successful, I put up a caution. I didn't think it was fair to have the shadow of that kind of success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-became-successful-i-put-up-a-caution-i-didn-t-think-it-was/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Never revisit the past, that's dangerous. You know, move on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/never-revisit-the-past-that-s-dangerous-you-know-move-on/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I have no regrets, because I've done everything I could to the best of my ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-have-no-regrets-because-i-ve-done-everything-i-could-to-the-best-of/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [When you get older, you learn certain life lessons. You apply that wisdom, and suddenly you say, 'Hey, I've got a new lease on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-you-get-older-you-learn-certain-life-lessons-you-apply-that/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [The country is so wounded, bleeding, and hurt right now. The country needs to be healed-it's not going to be healed from the top,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/the-country-is-so-wounded-bleeding-and-hurt-right-now-the-country/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [When I was a kid, nobody told me I was good-looking. I wish they had. I would've had a better time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/when-i-was-a-kid-nobody-told-me-i-was-good-looking-i-wish-they-had-i/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Criticism challenges current findings. The effort to defend one's position can lead to deeper insights or consideration of options previously not considered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/criticism-challenges-current-findings-the-effort-to-defend-one-s/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [There's a lot of money to be made by strip-mining and drilling the dirtiest oil on the planet. But why should the rest of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/there-s-a-lot-of-money-to-be-made-by-strip-mining-and-drilling-the/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [All of the films that I've made are about the country I live in and grew up in... And I think if you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/all-of-the-films-that-i-ve-made-are-about-the-country-i-live-in-and/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I've been very fortunate in that I've had wonderful relationships with people I've worked with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-ve-been-very-fortunate-in-that-i-ve-had-wonderful-relationships/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [I've always liked speed. I own a car that I shouldn't be talking about because I'm an environmentalist, but the 1955 Porsche Spyder 550…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-ve-always-liked-speed-i-own-a-car-that-i-shouldn-t-be-talking-about/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [The way you really find out about the performer's seriousness about the cause is how long they stay with it when the spotlight gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/the-way-you-really-find-out-about-the-performer-s-seriousness-about/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Usually I like to improvise. Sometimes, depending on the nature of the piece, I like to improvise because I think it brings a certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/usually-i-like-to-improvise-sometimes-depending-on-the-nature-of-the/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [Because, you know, you're in Utah. And because of its political conservatism, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/because-you-know-you-re-in-utah-and-because-of-its-political/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [What I would do is when I was younger I would draw in a sketch book something that happened in my life and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/what-i-would-do-is-when-i-was-younger-i-would-draw-in-a-sketch-book/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) [Explore all 214 Robert Redford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) ## More Climate quotes > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) [Browse all 8,549 Climate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I guess the optimistic thing is that those people in Congress who are climate deniers, I think their time has run out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Redford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-those-people-in-congress-who-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climate" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-those-people-in-congress-who-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/robert-redford-1707_climate_i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-tho_595319.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/robert-redford-1707_climate_i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-tho_595319.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8f/robert-redford-1707_climate_i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-tho_595319.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I guess the optimistic thing is that those people in Congress who are climate deniers, I think their time…” — Robert Redford", "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": "Robert Redford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I guess the optimistic thing is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-those-people-in-congress-who-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/i-guess-the-optimistic-thing-is-that-those-people-in-congress-who-are/#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 } } ] } ```