Did You Know? Optimist Or Pessimist

Recent events in Ukraine, Mexican border, economic conditions, crime in the streets, etc raises the question of self evaluation as to whether each individual is an optimist or pessimist in 2023-2024.

In two articles the views of some well known economic authorities give their definitions of the terms:

OPTIMIST

1. “Someone who hasn’t gotten around to reading the morning papers.”- Earl Wilson;

2. “The contentment of small men in high places.”- F. Scott Fitzgerald;

3. “Someone who tells you to cheer up when things are going his way.”- Edward Murrow;

4. “One who fills up his crossword puzzle in ink.”- Clement King Shorter;

5. “A man who gets married at 93 and buys a house near a school.”- Stanley Davis

This is the second definition of the terms, Pessimist-Optimist, in light of evolving expectations in world conditions in the local, state, and national environment on several issues:

PESSIMIST

1. “A man (woman, etc.) who has been compelled to live with an optimist.”- Elbert Hubbard;

2. “A man who thinks all women are bad. (An optimist hopes they are!)” (Vice versa)- Chauncey Depew;

3. “A man who thinks everyone is as nasty as himself and hates them for it.”- George Bernard Shaw;

4. “A man who looks both ways before crossing a one way street.”- Robert Lowell;

5. “Someone who burns his bridges before he gets to them.”- Anon.

(Old cliché: Is the glass half full or half empty?)

* * *

You can reach Jerry Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com