Abstract
An optimist stays up to see the New Year in. A pessimist waits to make sure the old one leaves.
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Notes
- 1.
As quoted, without a date, in several reliable collections, including Wikiquote.
- 2.
Sometimes misattributed to J. Robert Oppenheimer.
- 3.
As quoted, without a date, in several generally reliable collections, starting not later than 1987.
- 4.
From his Satires, written in the early second century AD.
- 5.
This line (as well as all other quotes by Jane Wagner in this collection) is frequently attributed to Lily Tomlin - the actress it was written for.
- 6.
As quoted, without a date, in several generally reliable sources, starting not later than 2003.
- 7.
This is my favorite formulation of the so-called Murphy Law, reportedly based on an oral, more personal statement by some Edward A. Murphy made in the 1940s, and first quoted by several authors in the early 1950s. Of its innumerous later forms and twists, I especially like the 1st Chisholm Law quoted next, its corollary, “Anytime things appear to be going better, you have overlooked something”, and the ultimately succinct (anonymous?) maxim: “Constants aren’t”.
- 8.
His self-epitaph.
- 9.
A. Pope declared this was a ninth Beatitude, added by him to the eight ones listed in the Bible (Matthew 5:3–12).
- 10.
I have seen this quote attributed to actor Moe Howard, but could not find a reliable confirmation of his authorship.
- 11.
The first clause of this statement is frequently misattributed to H. L. Mencken.
- 12.
As quoted, without a date, by Carey Winfrey in 1977.
- 13.
As quoted, without a date, by Thomas Vinciguerra in 2006.
- 14.
Frequently paraphrased as “The only paradise is the paradise lost”.
- 15.
As quoted in several generally reliable sources, starting not later than 1960.
- 16.
Looks like a development of a much earlier line by François de La Rochefoucauld: “We all have strength enough to endure the misfortune of others”.
- 17.
Sometimes misattributed to his younger brother, naturalist Alexander von Humboldt.
- 18.
Apparently a reaction to the common proverb “Money can’t buy happiness”.
- 19.
Frequently attributed to Hobart Brown, but I was unable to find a reliable confirmation of his authorship.
- 20.
The date of the apparently first English publication.
- 21.
As quoted, without a date, in several reputable collections; sometimes misattributed to C. P. Snow.
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Likharev, K.K. (2021). On Optimism, Pessimism, and Happiness. In: Likharev, K.K. (eds) Essential Quotes for Scientists and Engineers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63332-5_10
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