To describe someone as a pessimist is to issue an insult, whereas to be labelled an optimist is to get a pat on the back. To dismiss someone's argument as pessimistic is to suggest it is the product of a personality disorder, rather than careful analysis.

David Olusoga

The United States is the ultimate land of optimistic promise, but it also gave birth to quintessentially pessimistic tragedy: 'Moby-Dick.'

A. N. Wilson

If you think only of evil, then you become pessimistic and hopeless like Freud. But if you think there is no evil, then you're just one more deluded Pollyanna.

Abraham Maslow

I am incrementally a pessimist, but I see the international debate that Edward Snowden has engendered, and I think this is exactly where the discussion should be. So, I would say I'm more optimistic than pessimistic.

Adam Savage

A man may be a pessimistic determinist before lunch and an optimistic believer in the will's freedom after it.

Aldous Huxley

Spending time with negative people can be the fastest way to ruin a good mood. Their pessimistic outlooks and gloomy attitude can decrease our motivation and change the way we feel. But allowing a negative person to dictate your emotions gives them too much power in your life. Make a conscious effort to choose your attitude.

Amy Morin

I am pessimistically optimistic.

Anna Madeley

I'm very pessimistic.

B. F. Skinner

I get very confused about being called a comedian, because when you say 'I'm a comedian,' people expect you to crack a joke. Maybe I use laughter and humour to make people think. I don't know what you call that - a humourist? A satirist? A pessimistic comedian? I don't know. Satirists can be very dark.

Bassem Youssef

These days I wonder more and more why people are pessimistic when American history actually supports optimism.

bell hooks

Vermonters often ask me whether I am pessimistic about the future of our country. My honest answer is that I am not.

Bernie Sanders

Honestly, I had a very realistic, probably pessimistic outlook at the beginning of my career post-graduation of drama school. In general, I would see black women, usually older, playing a certain archetype on procedural shows. I thought, 'Okay, that's what I have to look forward to.'

Betty Gabriel

When thinking about the future, it is fashionable to be pessimistic. Yet the evidence unequivocally belies such pessimism. Over the past centuries, humanity's lot has improved dramatically - in the developed world, where it is rather obvious, but also in the developing world, where life expectancy has more than doubled in the past 100 years.

Bjorn Lomborg

Every economy is uncertain. Referring to this or any economy as 'uncertain' is an unnecessary and pessimistic redundancy.

Bo Bennett

Gospel music is never pessimistic, it's never 'oh my god, its all going down the tubes', like the blues often is.

Brian Eno

I have a very pessimistic view that every win takes you closer to a loss because no-one in the world can keep on winning forever.

Bronte Campbell

When I look at the world I'm pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic.

Carl Rogers

In this pessimistic world, especially in America, a positive outlook is very necessary.

Carlos Mencia

This is what old guys do. They get dark and pessimistic.

Charles Murray

When you have vision it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic.

Charles R. Swindoll

The paucity of near-future U.S. scifi is about the country becoming pessimistic, not being able to see the future clearly. There's a trend in U.S. scifi towards militarism and far-future stuff.

Charles Stross