--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm very much an optimist. I don't think…" description: "\"I'm very much an optimist. I don't think I could do my work if I didn't believe there was some kind of hope for humanity.\" — Sandra Bernhard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/sandra-bernhard-3766_believe_i-m-very-much-an-optimist-i-don-t-think_1973360.jpg" --- # I'm very much an optimist. I don't think I could do my… ![“I'm very much an optimist. I don't think I could do my work if I didn't believe there was some kind of hope for humanity.” quote by Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/sandra-bernhard-3766_believe_i-m-very-much-an-optimist-i-don-t-think_1973360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/sandra-bernhard-3766_believe_i-m-very-much-an-optimist-i-don-t-think_1973360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/sandra-bernhard-3766_believe_i-m-very-much-an-optimist-i-don-t-think_1973360.jpg) > “I'm very much an optimist. I don't think I could do my work if I didn't believe there was some kind of hope for humanity.” [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimism fuels the ability to work, believing in humanity’s potential for positive change. **In simple terms:** Hope drives work and purpose. Key Takeaway Cultivate optimism to sustain effort. Themes hope optimism purpose Mood inspired optimistic Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - activism - creative projects - daily work Key Concepts humanism motivation resilience Questions to Reflect On - What gives you hope each day? - How do you balance hope with realism? A Different Perspective Excessive optimism can ignore real risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Didn Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-believe/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Hope for humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-for-humanity/) [Hope Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-humanity-910453/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Optimist Don](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist-don-1892052/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“I have known many survivors for whom the Holocaust is the central theme of their lives. They have no other. I have tried to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-known-many-survivors-for-whom-the-holocaust-is-the-central/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am convinced the Church is the greatest hope for humanity and for creating a new world where everyone is valued and embraced regardless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/i-am-convinced-the-church-is-the-greatest-hope-for-humanity-and-for/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [Sometimes we see the world in black and white; other times in grey. I often view the world in white. Why? Because It have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-we-see-the-world-in-black-and-white-other-times-in-grey-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I try to be realistic and pragmatic. I have a lot of hope for humanity as a species, but obviously as individuals we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/i-try-to-be-realistic-and-pragmatic-i-have-a-lot-of-hope-for-humanity/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [Comedy is the only hope for humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/comedy-is-the-only-hope-for-humanity/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [“In these dark and uncertain times, there can be great value in imagining a bit of star in each human soul. Not just that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-meade/in-these-dark-and-uncertain-times-there-can-be-great-value-in/) [Michael Meade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-meade/) > [There is hope for humanity, but in order for us to get there, we really have to interrogate not just what it takes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alicia-garza/there-is-hope-for-humanity-but-in-order-for-us-to-get-there-we-really/) [Alicia Garza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alicia-garza/) > [I'm a long-term optimist, and I don't think the problems with our society are from being overly optimistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-macleod/i-m-a-long-term-optimist-and-i-don-t-think-the-problems-with-our/) [Ken MacLeod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-macleod/) > [I am an optimist because I don't see the point in being anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-an-optimist-because-i-don-t-see-the-point-in-being-anything-else/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [I'm not really good at worrying. I think I get that from my pops. He can be in some really dire straights and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/urijah-faber/i-m-not-really-good-at-worrying-i-think-i-get-that-from-my-pops-he/) [Urijah Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/urijah-faber/) > [“If the idea of loving those whom you have been taught to recognize as your enemies is too overwhelming, consider more deeply the observation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aberjhani/if-the-idea-of-loving-those-whom-you-have-been-taught-to-recognize-as/) [Aberjhani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aberjhani/) > [Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/outside-of-the-cross-of-jesus-christ-there-is-no-hope-in-this-world/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [You maintain hope for humanity as an infinite skeptic of gossip and slander. In all mankind's desires for entertainment and exaggeration and sensationalism, when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/you-maintain-hope-for-humanity-as-an-infinite-skeptic-of-gossip-and/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Self-published media are really critical. It's so heartwarming that people are still doing it in this digital age. It's just really moving and exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/self-published-media-are-really-critical-it-s-so-heartwarming-that/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) ## More by Sandra Bernhard > [I definitely want to be with somebody who doesn't feel lost or in my shadow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-definitely-want-to-be-with-somebody-who-doesn-t-feel-lost-or-in-my/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [A remembrance can mean nothing to the one remembered; it can only remind the ones left behind how little they did while you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/a-remembrance-can-mean-nothing-to-the-one-remembered-it-can-only/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [It's usually a spiritual thing that's preventing somebody from having happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/it-s-usually-a-spiritual-thing-that-s-preventing-somebody-from-having/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [ I think everybody is covering their \[posteriors\] with the Enron scandal and it was very convenient that Sept. 11 came along to deflect the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-think-everybody-is-covering-their-posteriors-with-the-enron-scandal/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [Of course, everybody's family is dysfunctional - we've accepted that. What are we supposed to do? Hate our parents for the rest of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/of-course-everybody-s-family-is-dysfunctional-we-ve-accepted-that/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [I think Bush is amateurish and self-serving, and frankly, it's disgusting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-think-bush-is-amateurish-and-self-serving-and-frankly-it-s/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [From the time I was a kid, I'd never joined groups. I hated high school groups. I hung out with hippies, musical people. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/from-the-time-i-was-a-kid-i-d-never-joined-groups-i-hated-high-school/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [I'm a sexual person. A lot of different people turn me on and have over the years, and I've always wanted to make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-m-a-sexual-person-a-lot-of-different-people-turn-me-on-and-have/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [For most of my relationships, I would have liaisons, and I would feel guilty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/for-most-of-my-relationships-i-would-have-liaisons-and-i-would-feel/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [I don't like going back and listening to myself. It makes me uncomfortable, and I know I can never emulate what I did that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-don-t-like-going-back-and-listening-to-myself-it-makes-me/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [I've always allowed myself to go on journeys creatively and emotionally, and never put, like, limits on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/i-ve-always-allowed-myself-to-go-on-journeys-creatively-and/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [Personally, I'm waiting for caller IQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/personally-i-m-waiting-for-caller-iq/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [There's this whole sense of judgment and who's right and who's wrong and who's moral and who's going to be punished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/there-s-this-whole-sense-of-judgment-and-who-s-right-and-who-s-wrong/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [People feel like if they don't have a voice or a name or the spotlight, then they're invisible. But if you can't wake up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/people-feel-like-if-they-don-t-have-a-voice-or-a-name-or-the/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) > [Once you're heterosexual and comfortable with that, you don't need to take out an announcement every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bernhard/once-you-re-heterosexual-and-comfortable-with-that-you-don-t-need-to/) [Sandra Bernhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) [Explore all 122 Sandra Bernhard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bernhard/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) [Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm very much an optimist. 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