--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pessimists calculate the odds. Optimists…" description: "\"Pessimists calculate the odds. Optimists believe they can overcome them.\" — Ted Koppel" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c61/ted-koppel-3111_against-all-odds_pessimists-calculate-the-odds-optimists_2966046.png" --- # Pessimists calculate the odds. Optimists believe they can… ![“Pessimists calculate the odds. Optimists believe they can overcome them.” quote by Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c61/ted-koppel-3111_against-all-odds_pessimists-calculate-the-odds-optimists_2966046.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c61/ted-koppel-3111_against-all-odds_pessimists-calculate-the-odds-optimists_2966046.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c61/ted-koppel-3111_against-all-odds_pessimists-calculate-the-odds-optimists_2966046.png) > “Pessimists calculate the odds. Optimists believe they can overcome them.” [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Optimists see possibilities and act, while pessimists focus on probabilities and limits. **In simple terms:** Optimists act; pessimists calculate. Key Takeaway Embrace optimism to overcome challenges. Themes optimism confidence risk mindset Mood hopeful determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - business planning - personal goals - team leadership - problem solving Key Concepts psychology decision making self-efficacy Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance optimism with realistic assessment? - When should you adopt a cautious approach? A Different Perspective Optimism may ignore real risks, leading to overconfidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Against all odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against-all-odds/) [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Believe in yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe-in-yourself/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Odds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds/) [Odds Optimists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odds-optimists-4542444/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Optimists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimists/) [Optimists Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimists-believe-4358497/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist/) [Pessimists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimists/) [Pessimists Calculate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimists-calculate-4542445/) ## Related quotes > [By far the most dangerous people in the world are optimists (those who believe that all can be made well here below). 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Optimists, in contrast, view problems as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/pessimists-see-problems-as-stemming-from-stable-and-universal-causes/) [Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/) > [As a bull market turns into a bear market, the new pros turn into optimists, hoping and praying the bear market will become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/as-a-bull-market-turns-into-a-bear-market-the-new-pros-turn-into/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“Optimists see opportunities. Pessimists refuse to look.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-fritz/optimists-see-opportunities-pessimists-refuse-to-look/) [Roger Fritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-fritz/) > [The defining characteristic of pessimists is that they tend to believe that bad events will last a long time, will undermine everything they do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/the-defining-characteristic-of-pessimists-is-that-they-tend-to/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [“A handsome young lady of quality,' a parable in Mahaparinirvana-sutra tells us, 'who carries with her an immense treasure is ever accompanied by her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/a-handsome-young-lady-of-quality-a-parable-in-mahaparinirvana-sutra/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“the reason why pessimists are recruited among former optimists, since in order to have a black picture of the world it is necessary to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernesto-sabato/the-reason-why-pessimists-are-recruited-among-former-optimists-since/) [Ernesto Sabato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernesto-sabato/) > [Pessimists see a problem behind every opportunity. Optimists see an opportunity behind every problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/pessimists-see-a-problem-behind-every-opportunity-optimists-see-an/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Optimists and pessimists die the exact same death, but they live very different lives!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/optimists-and-pessimists-die-the-exact-same-death-but-they-live-very/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [“And truthfully, when microbiologists talk amongst ourselves, off the record after a few glasses of wine, the optimists admit their optimism is more wishful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-chercover/and-truthfully-when-microbiologists-talk-amongst-ourselves-off-the/) [Sean Chercover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-chercover/) > [“Optimists see the glass as half full. Pessimists see the glass as half empty. Experiential trainers see the whole glass and its context.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bogdan-vaida/optimists-see-the-glass-as-half-full-pessimists-see-the-glass-as-half/) [Bogdan Vaida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bogdan-vaida/) > [Pessimists fear becoming the dupes of Hope. Optimists enjoy Hope's company, and consider being duped no great matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/pessimists-fear-becoming-the-dupes-of-hope-optimists-enjoy-hope-s/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Life is not meant more for the pessimists but for the optimists who see life in every moment and feel every moment in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-not-meant-more-for-the-pessimists-but-for-the-optimists-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Ted Koppel > [“Nobody’s in charge there, nobody has responsibility, nor can anybody require that they do work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/nobody-s-in-charge-there-nobody-has-responsibility-nor-can-anybody/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [Would anyone else like to say anything nice about women?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/would-anyone-else-like-to-say-anything-nice-about-women/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“smaller companies with lean profit margins are simply not inclined to spend a great deal on cybersecurity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/smaller-companies-with-lean-profit-margins-are-simply-not-inclined-to/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“has to be connected to the company’s billing department, which in turn needs to be connected to whatever department actually conveys electricity to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/has-to-be-connected-to-the-company-s-billing-department-which-in-turn/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“I think that within six months, if things weren’t straightened out adequately to have something besides anarchy, somebody’s going to show up on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/i-think-that-within-six-months-if-things-weren-t-straightened-out/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“the extreme vulnerability of SCADA systems to cyber sabotage was first demonstrated, and dramatically so, during the administration of George W. Bush.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/the-extreme-vulnerability-of-scada-systems-to-cyber-sabotage-was/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“The August 2003 blackout was a wake-up call for both industry and government regulators.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/the-august-2003-blackout-was-a-wake-up-call-for-both-industry-and/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“The world is locked into a state of cyber dependency”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/the-world-is-locked-into-a-state-of-cyber-dependency/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“consumer deals directly only with the local company that delivers the electricity on that final leg.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/consumer-deals-directly-only-with-the-local-company-that-delivers-the/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“We remain largely oblivious to the potential catastrophe of a well-targeted cyberattack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/we-remain-largely-oblivious-to-the-potential-catastrophe-of-a-well/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“the Internet is also giving rise to “filter bubbles” that decrease users’ exposure to conflicting viewpoints and reinforce their own ideological frames.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/the-internet-is-also-giving-rise-to-filter-bubbles-that-decrease/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“(Several nation-states, most prominently the Russians and the Chinese, have already spent years conducting just such reconnaissance.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/several-nation-states-most-prominently-the-russians-and-the-chinese/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“the only institution with real power to decide how the power industry is protected is the power industry.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/the-only-institution-with-real-power-to-decide-how-the-power-industry/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“What about independent actors using cyberattacks to knock out one of our power grids? Are we at that point yet? “Simple answer,” said Schmidt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/what-about-independent-actors-using-cyberattacks-to-knock-out-one-of/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > [“it took on average 279 days before companies that had been breached came to realize it or were told by someone else. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/it-took-on-average-279-days-before-companies-that-had-been-breached/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) [Explore all 139 Ted Koppel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) ## More Against all odds quotes > [A lot of Broadway has that immigrant narrative of America as a place where you can become something else against all odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-kass/a-lot-of-broadway-has-that-immigrant-narrative-of-america-as-a-place/) [Deborah Kass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-kass/) > [Every successful person in life began by pursuing a passion, usually against all odds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/every-successful-person-in-life-began-by-pursuing-a-passion-usually/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The good thing about having your back against the wall is that every issue is in front of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/the-good-thing-about-having-your-back-against-the-wall-is-that-every/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [How can you prove that you love a me when all you do is to hide from my existence? How can you tell the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself/how-can-you-prove-that-you-love-a-me-when-all-you-do-is-to-hide-from/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myself/) > [At the center of the Universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person. Anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/at-the-center-of-the-universe-is-a-loving-heart-that-continues-to/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [It's not the gods But our own hearts We need to fear. The evil starts Against all odds Not there but here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikram-seth/it-s-not-the-gods-but-our-own-hearts-we-need-to-fear-the-evil-starts/) [Vikram Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikram-seth/) > [Success is not measured by what a man accomplishes, but by the opposition he has encountered and the courage with which he has maintained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lindbergh/success-is-not-measured-by-what-a-man-accomplishes-but-by-the/) [Charles Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lindbergh/) > [“Understanding” may become “misunderstanding”, if no commitment or no responsibilities are assumed, no specific objectives set, no definite expectations met and common values and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/understanding-may-become-misunderstanding-if-no-commitment-or-no/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [Take a look at me now, cause there's just an empty space. And you coming back to me is against all odds and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-collins/take-a-look-at-me-now-cause-there-s-just-an-empty-space-and-you/) [Phil Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-collins/) > [Much of our American progress has been the product of the individual who had an idea; pursued it; fashioned it; tenaciously clung to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-h-humphrey/much-of-our-american-progress-has-been-the-product-of-the-individual/) [Hubert H. Humphrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hubert-h-humphrey/) > [“There shall always be that voice that will tell you how you are wasting your time and ability, how you shall fail, how some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/there-shall-always-be-that-voice-that-will-tell-you-how-you-are/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [“It does not matter who is against you. What matters most is God is with you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/it-does-not-matter-who-is-against-you-what-matters-most-is-god-is/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“It's never the differences between people that surprise us. It's the things that, against all odds, we have in common.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/it-s-never-the-differences-between-people-that-surprise-us-it-s-the/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/it-s-funny-i-always-imagined-when-i-was-a-kid-that-adults-had-some/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [Saigon, U.S.A. aptly documents the birth of a new American community, uprooted in the aftermath of war and forever torn apart by the wounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nguyen-qui-duc/saigon-u-s-a-aptly-documents-the-birth-of-a-new-american-community/) [Nguyen Qui Duc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nguyen-qui-duc/) [Browse all 69 Against all odds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/against-all-odds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pessimists calculate the odds. 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