--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Better to be an optimist who gets…" description: "\"Better to be an optimist who gets disappointed than a pessimist who has no hope.\" — Robin Sharma" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/robin-sharma-453_disappointed_better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disapp_1292881.jpg" --- # Better to be an optimist who gets disappointed than a… ![“Better to be an optimist who gets disappointed than a pessimist who has no hope.” quote by Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/robin-sharma-453_disappointed_better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disapp_1292881.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/robin-sharma-453_disappointed_better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disapp_1292881.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/robin-sharma-453_disappointed_better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disapp_1292881.jpg) > “Better to be an optimist who gets disappointed than a pessimist who has no hope.” [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimism, even with setbacks, is healthier than hopeless pessimism. **In simple terms:** Optimism beats hopelessness. Key Takeaway Choose optimism despite risk of disappointment. Themes optimism hope resilience Mood inspirational reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - team building - career planning Key Concepts psychology mindset risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance optimism with realistic expectations? - Can hope exist without risk? A Different Perspective Optimism can lead to repeated disappointment without realistic planning. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disappointed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [No hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-hope/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist/) ## Related quotes > [It is better to be an optimist (a positive-minded person) because being a pessimist will get you nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/it-is-better-to-be-an-optimist-a-positive-minded-person-because-being/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [If you expect the worst from a person, you can't ever be disappointed... The pessimist takes a sort of gloomy pleasure in observing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-t-ever-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [It's better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-better-to-be-an-optimist-who-is-sometimes-wrong-than-a-pessimist/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Dad gave me two pieces of advice. One was, "No matter how good you think you are, there are people better than you." But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ritter/dad-gave-me-two-pieces-of-advice-one-was-no-matter-how-good-you-think/) [John Ritter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ritter/) > [If you expect the worst from a person, you can't ever be disappointed... The pessimist takes a sort of gloomy pleasure in observing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-t-ever-be-disappointed-2/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [“I was tired of working in the lumber industry,” Phil said. “I was sure I could find a better job, and look at me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/i-was-tired-of-working-in-the-lumber-industry-phil-said-i-was-sure-i/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [Ive got as much hope as the chances of a rain drop not hitting the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-herring/ive-got-as-much-hope-as-the-chances-of-a-rain-drop-not-hitting-the/) [Alyssa Herring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-herring/) > [People have always painted me like a pessimist, like somebody who sees the glass half-empty. But I think the fact that I keep showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/people-have-always-painted-me-like-a-pessimist-like-somebody-who-sees/) [John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/) > [Vision involves optimism and hope. The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. The pessimist tends to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/vision-involves-optimism-and-hope-the-pessimist-sees-difficulty-in/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [I'd rather be an optimist and a fool than a pessimist and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/i-d-rather-be-an-optimist-and-a-fool-than-a-pessimist-and-right/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The intelligent investor is a realist who sells to optimists and buys from pessimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-intelligent-investor-is-a-realist-who-sells-to-optimists-and-buys/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [I'm such a pessimist. I find it impossible to enjoy anything, especially while it's happening. I'm thinking about how to get the next thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-anderson/i-m-such-a-pessimist-i-find-it-impossible-to-enjoy-anything/) [Jacob Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-anderson/) > [“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/) > [The bottom line on attitude is that a good one helps to increase your possibilities. Pessimists usually get what they expect. So do optimists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/the-bottom-line-on-attitude-is-that-a-good-one-helps-to-increase-your/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [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 Robin Sharma > [You don't get lucky. You create lucky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-don-t-get-lucky-you-create-lucky/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [The moment you conquer one fear is the minute you conquer many fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-moment-you-conquer-one-fear-is-the-minute-you-conquer-many-fears/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [You'll know you're amazing when you get devoted to making other people amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/you-ll-know-you-re-amazing-when-you-get-devoted-to-making-other/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Just because you couldn't do it yesterday doesn't mean you can't do it today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/just-because-you-couldn-t-do-it-yesterday-doesn-t-mean-you-can-t-do/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [I promise you this: at the end of your days, you will discover that the things you now perceive to be the big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/i-promise-you-this-at-the-end-of-your-days-you-will-discover-that-the/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Doing great things for others is an awesome gift to give yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/doing-great-things-for-others-is-an-awesome-gift-to-give-yourself/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [What you resist will persist; what you befriend, you will transcend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/what-you-resist-will-persist-what-you-befriend-you-will-transcend/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [The ordinary focus on what they're getting. The extraordinary think about who they're becoming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-ordinary-focus-on-what-they-re-getting-the-extraordinary-think/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“As you live your day so you craft your life. Just take care of your days and a great life will take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/as-you-live-your-day-so-you-craft-your-life-just-take-care-of-your/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Discipline is built by consistently performing small acts of courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/discipline-is-built-by-consistently-performing-small-acts-of-courage/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Understand that a problem is only a problem if you choose to view it as a problem (vs. an opportunity).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/understand-that-a-problem-is-only-a-problem-if-you-choose-to-view-it/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [Being scared is part of being alive. Accept it. Walk through it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/being-scared-is-part-of-being-alive-accept-it-walk-through-it/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [To achieve the impossible, you need to first develop the mindset that it's probable. Please don't allow the current limits of your life define…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/to-achieve-the-impossible-you-need-to-first-develop-the-mindset-that/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [First of all, begin to live out of the glory of your imagination, not your memory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/first-of-all-begin-to-live-out-of-the-glory-of-your-imagination-not/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [The project you are most resisting carries your greatest growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/the-project-you-are-most-resisting-carries-your-greatest-growth/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) [Explore all 543 Robin Sharma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) ## More Disappointed quotes > [Sometimes it's just enough for me to have the idea. I don't need to see it through to the end. When it actually happens,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/sometimes-it-s-just-enough-for-me-to-have-the-idea-i-don-t-need-to/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [If you expect the worst from a person you can never be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-burgess/if-you-expect-the-worst-from-a-person-you-can-never-be-disappointed/) [Anthony Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-burgess/) > [Somebody said that part of my reaction to British cinema is actually, paradoxically, a patriotic one. I'm so disappointed that we're not better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-brownlow/somebody-said-that-part-of-my-reaction-to-british-cinema-is-actually/) [Kevin Brownlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-brownlow/) > [I don't hate you, i m just disappointed you turned into everything you said you'd never be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-hate-you-i-m-just-disappointed-you-turned-into-everything-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every producer in Hollywood had set me down as a type. I was both amused and disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bela-lugosi/every-producer-in-hollywood-had-set-me-down-as-a-type-i-was-both/) [Bela Lugosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bela-lugosi/) > [I just hate meetings. Though it's true that once you've made a lot of money, people around you might be full of ideas about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-just-hate-meetings-though-it-s-true-that-once-you-ve-made-a-lot-of/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You wanted to become a doctor to help people and feel better at the end of your job, I think, watching them, as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/you-wanted-to-become-a-doctor-to-help-people-and-feel-better-at-the/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) > [I've had to learn that not everybody does things my way. But I do expect the absolute best of everyone around me, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-johnson/i-ve-had-to-learn-that-not-everybody-does-things-my-way-but-i-do/) [Michael Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-johnson/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [I want violence. I want punching in the face. I'm disappointed in Trump supporters for not punching enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-mcinnes/i-want-violence-i-want-punching-in-the-face-i-m-disappointed-in-trump/) [Gavin McInnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-mcinnes/) > [It's core to my beliefs now: Sometimes in being given a challenge, you're actually being given a real opportunity, and a lot of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-graham/it-s-core-to-my-beliefs-now-sometimes-in-being-given-a-challenge-you/) [Lauren Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-graham/) > [Lamon, that speech won't scour. It is a flat failure and the people are disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/lamon-that-speech-won-t-scour-it-is-a-flat-failure-and-the-people-are/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Never aim to be proactive with your day. That way, if you end up getting stuff done, you’re never disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-blagden/never-aim-to-be-proactive-with-your-day-that-way-if-you-end-up/) [George Blagden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-blagden/) > [I am disappointed by this controversy surrounding A Million Little Pieces because I rely on the publishers to define the category that a book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/i-am-disappointed-by-this-controversy-surrounding-a-million-little/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [It is always the time of hope, confidence and love. Everything passes; love remains. We will not be disappointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-maria-martini/it-is-always-the-time-of-hope-confidence-and-love-everything-passes/) Carlo Maria Martini [Browse all 1,145 Disappointed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointed/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Better to be an optimist who gets disappointed than a pessimist who has no hope.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robin Sharma" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disappointed-than-a-pessimist-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disappointed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disappointed-than-a-pessimist-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/robin-sharma-453_disappointed_better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disapp_1292881.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/robin-sharma-453_disappointed_better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disapp_1292881.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab7/robin-sharma-453_disappointed_better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disapp_1292881.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Better to be an optimist who gets disappointed than a pessimist who has no hope.” — Robin Sharma", "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": "Robin Sharma", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Better to be an optimist who...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disappointed-than-a-pessimist-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/better-to-be-an-optimist-who-gets-disappointed-than-a-pessimist-who/#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 } } ] } ```