--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pessimist complains about the wind…" description: "\"The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.\" — William Arthur Ward" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/william-arthur-ward-2681_optimism_the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-t_1042650.png" --- # The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist… ![“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” quote by William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/william-arthur-ward-2681_optimism_the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-t_1042650.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/william-arthur-ward-2681_optimism_the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-t_1042650.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/william-arthur-ward-2681_optimism_the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-t_1042650.png) > “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts three attitudes toward challenges: complaining, hoping for change, and adapting to reality. **In simple terms:** Three ways to handle problems: complain, hope, or adapt. Key Takeaway Adapt to circumstances rather than wish for them. Themes attitude adaptation perspective Mood reflective pragmatic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - personal setbacks - team projects - weather planning - business strategy Key Concepts psychology resilience mindset Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift from hoping to adapting? - What resources help you adjust effectively? A Different Perspective Adapting may require resources or acceptance of limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Complains Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complains-wind-2445311/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Pessimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist/) [Pessimist Complains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist-complains-2445310/) [Pessimist Complains About The Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-217357/) [Realist Adjusts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realist-adjusts-2445312/) [Wind Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wind-optimist-2445309/) ## Related quotes > [“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maxwell/the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-the-optimist-expects-it-to/) [John Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maxwell/) > [But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/but-risks-must-be-taken-because-the-greatest-hazard-in-life-is-to/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [The Atheist complains about the wind. The Christian prays for it to change. The Satanist adjusts his sails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/the-atheist-complains-about-the-wind-the-christian-prays-for-it-to/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [To the optimist all doors have handles and hinges; to the pessimist, all doors have locks and latches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/to-the-optimist-all-doors-have-handles-and-hinges-to-the-pessimist/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [The optimist lives on the peninsula of infinite possibilities; the pessimist is stranded on the island of perpetual indecision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-optimist-lives-on-the-peninsula-of-infinite-possibilities-the/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [A person who says that O is the last letter of ZERO, instead of the first letter in OPPORTUNITY.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/araba/a-person-who-says-that-o-is-the-last-letter-of-zero-instead-of-the/) [Araba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/araba/) > [“To see all pessimists as pessimists is to be a pessimist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/to-see-all-pessimists-as-pessimists-is-to-be-a-pessimist/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [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. 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I do believe that in some way we don't understand, God has a hand in things and it will all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-bean/i-m-not-a-pessimist-i-do-believe-that-in-some-way-we-don-t-understand/) [Orson Bean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-bean/) > [“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 thought all my life that optimists and pessimists pass away the same way, so why be a pessimist?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-thought-all-my-life-that-optimists-and-pessimists-pass-away-the/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [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 William Arthur Ward > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [“If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/if-you-can-imagine-it-you-can-create-it-if-you-can-dream-it-you-can/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [A friend is one with whom you are comfortable, to whom you are loyal, through whom you are blessed, and for whom you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/a-friend-is-one-with-whom-you-are-comfortable-to-whom-you-are-loyal/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [We must be silent before we can listen. We must listen before we can learn. We must learn before we can prepare. 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Do more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/do-more-than-belong-participate-do-more-than-care-help-do-more-than/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [There is one thing we can do better than anyone else: we can be ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/there-is-one-thing-we-can-do-better-than-anyone-else-we-can-be/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Enthusiasm is the match that lights the candle of achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/enthusiasm-is-the-match-that-lights-the-candle-of-achievement/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Today's patience can transform yesterday's discouragements into tomorrow's discoveries. Today's purposes can turn yesterday's defeats into tomorrow's determination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/today-s-patience-can-transform-yesterday-s-discouragements-into/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [A life lived without forgiveness is a prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/a-life-lived-without-forgiveness-is-a-prison/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room others by leaving the room. Some individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/every-person-has-the-power-to-make-others-happy-some-do-it-simply-by/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Prepare while others are daydreaming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/prepare-while-others-are-daydreaming/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Every day is a good day to examine our prime-time priorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/every-day-is-a-good-day-to-examine-our-prime-time-priorities/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Another fresh new year is here... Another year to live! To banish worry, doubt, and fear, to love and laugh and give!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/another-fresh-new-year-is-here-another-year-to-live-to-banish-worry/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) [Explore all 155 William Arthur Ward quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) ## More Optimism quotes > [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/) [Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/) > [The late 1990s were really a moment of still tremendous hope and optimism about the relationship between Russia and the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/the-late-1990s-were-really-a-moment-of-still-tremendous-hope-and/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) > [Wherever I go I'm always wearing my smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewshy/wherever-i-go-i-m-always-wearing-my-smile/) [Ewshy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewshy/) > [If you can find as much happiness at the bottom of the ladder of success as you can at the top, then you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/if-you-can-find-as-much-happiness-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-of/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [Oh, dear Hazel.” Aphrodite folded her fan. “Such optimism, yet you have heartrending days ahead of you. Of course war is coming. Love and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/oh-dear-hazel-aphrodite-folded-her-fan-such-optimism-yet-you-have/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Hope is not mere optimism; rather, it is moving forward in anticipation of redemption in spite of the improbability of rescue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-b-allender/hope-is-not-mere-optimism-rather-it-is-moving-forward-in-anticipation/) [Dan B. Allender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-b-allender/) > [The still youthful energies of the globe have only to be directed in their proper channel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-still-youthful-energies-of-the-globe-have-only-to-be-directed-in/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [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/) > [Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/be-of-good-cheer-do-not-think-of-today-s-failures-but-of-the-success/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your-energy/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [“How little one is justified in speaking in this connection of "optimism" and "pessimism" and how much the characterization of liberalism as "optimistic" aims…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/how-little-one-is-justified-in-speaking-in-this-connection-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Optimism. It's not just a mind-set, it is behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-elder/optimism-it-s-not-just-a-mind-set-it-is-behavior/) [Larry Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-elder/) > [“There are five important things for living a successful and fulfilling life: never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-bennett/there-are-five-important-things-for-living-a-successful-and/) [Roy Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-bennett/) > [Lifes difficulties can seem overwhelming, and you may face times when problems seem encompassing. Dont look back at what youve lost, for the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/lifes-difficulties-can-seem-overwhelming-and-you-may-face-times-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 2,625 Optimism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Arthur Ward" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-the-optimist-expects-it-to-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Optimism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-the-optimist-expects-it-to-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/william-arthur-ward-2681_optimism_the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-t_1042650.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/william-arthur-ward-2681_optimism_the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-t_1042650.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf8/william-arthur-ward-2681_optimism_the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-t_1042650.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” — William Arthur Ward", "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": "William Arthur Ward", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The pessimist complains about the wind;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-the-optimist-expects-it-to-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/the-pessimist-complains-about-the-wind-the-optimist-expects-it-to-2/#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 } } ] } ```