We are a nation known for optimism. It’s easy to be optimistic when the world is your oyster but optimism matters more when we have cause to question it. Labor Day is a day when we celebrate the efforts of the American worker and the prosperity those efforts have created. Effort is a function of mindset and optimism as a mindset is a powerful driver of effort. At a time many Americans are becoming less optimistic, it’s important we recognize that it is optimism and effort that will continue to drive our prosperity. These are some of my favorite quotes on optimism. Happy Labor Day!
“The problems of the world cannot possibly be solved by skeptics or cynics whose horizons are limited by the obvious realities. We need men who can dream of things that never were.” – JFK
“The key to success is delusional optimism. Some people call it resilience. You’re lying there bleeding on the ground and you basically have to say, ‘Maybe tomorrow will be better.'” – Melissa Rosenberg
“An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight…. The truly wise person is colorblind.” – Dr. Albert Schweitzer
“Optimism is true moral courage.” – Ernest Shackleton
“What we want is not blind optimism but flexible optimism—optimism with its eyes open. We must be able to use pessimism’s keen sense of reality when we need it, but without having to dwell in its dark shadows.” – Martin Seligman
“We believe in having a positive and optimistic (but realistic) attitude about everything we do, because we realize that this inspires others to have the same attitude.” – Tony Hsieh
“If you pretend to be good, the world takes you very seriously. If you pretend to be bad, it doesn’t. Such is the astounding stupidity of optimism.” – Oscar Wilde
“My optimism wears heavy boots and is loud.” – Henry Rollins
“Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time.” Norman Cousins
“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” – Helen Keller
“Pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.” – William James
“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.” – Colin Powell