Rene Descartes Quotes

Do not let yourself be tainted with a barren skepticism.

I think I hate cynicism more than anything else. It's the curse of our age, and I want to avoid it at all costs.

I'm capable of looking on the bright side. I just don't do it very often.

I'm always being realistic.

The optimist thinks this is the best of all possible worlds. The pessimist fears it is true.

I understand the concept of optimism. But I think with me what you get is a lack of cynicism.

Optimism doesn't wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time.

Every silver lining has a cloud.

It might interest you to know that the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary identifies the optimist in complimentary terms, but says nothing about the pessimist. The word 'pessimist' was not in our vocabulary at that time. It's a modern 'invention' which I believe we should 'dis-invent.'

Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the furthest thing from it. Because cynics don't learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness: a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say 'no.' But saying 'yes' begins things. Saying 'yes' is how things grow.

Some people only look at the good stuff and some people only look at the bad stuff.

I'm always fighting the cup-is-half-empty way of being, versus the cup-is-half-full. I'm always fighting the pessimistic versus the positive.

I just think there is so much irrational pessimism in the world.

I'd rather be optimistic and wrong than pessimistic and right.

I don't have a Pollyana attitude toward life that claims everything is lovely.

Please don't look at the part of the glass that is only half full.

Cynicism is tough. A cynic's point of view is really pitiful. I derive pleasure out of a lot of things in life. As long as I'm fairly healthy, it's hard to stay dismal for very long.

With optimism, you look upon the sunny side of things. People say, 'Studs, you're an optimist.' I never said I was an optimist. I have hope because what's the alternative to hope? Despair? If you have despair, you might as well put your head in the oven.

People like Bill Maher, who brags about being a cynic, it sickens me. I am the least cynical person I know, and I am very, very skeptical.

If there's one thing that makes me cynical, it's optimists. They are just far too cynical about cynicism. If only they could see that cynics can be happy, constructive, even fun to hang out with, they might learn a thing or two.

The difference between an optimist and a pessimist? An optimist laughs to forget, but a pessimist forgets to laugh.

Optimism means better than reality; pessimism means worse than reality. I'm a realist.

I'm not pessimistic about much of anything.

And as far as false hope, there is no such thing. There is only hope or the absence of hope-nothing else.

I'm not cynical.