I have very strong pessimism in me, unfortunately. They say half the caveman were optimist and half pessimist. You need both for humans to survive. Someone had to remember all the bad things to tell the group. So there are people who only remember the bad things really well. Unfortunately, I am one of those.
I don’t think it’s a fun existence but it’s extremely hard to change it. I have it from my mother who is both neurotic and pessimistic. So I got it from genetics and osmosis.
You can fight on without having hope, just out of principle. You can have hope and be a coward waiting for things to change on their own, which is the case for the vast majority of hopefuls. If anything, it’s this false hope that keeps them appeased and inert.
This is so true. Excellent piece.
Thank you Sarah
I have very strong pessimism in me, unfortunately. They say half the caveman were optimist and half pessimist. You need both for humans to survive. Someone had to remember all the bad things to tell the group. So there are people who only remember the bad things really well. Unfortunately, I am one of those.
I don’t think it’s a fun existence but it’s extremely hard to change it. I have it from my mother who is both neurotic and pessimistic. So I got it from genetics and osmosis.
What if what you call pessimism is in fact realism?
Excellent essay. I've read Sun Tze too many times to count. Each time I do I learn something new.
Thank you. I’m glad you see the hidden optimism in this post.
It's very obvious if you know how to read and discern. Stay strong we live in dystopian perilous times.
Great piece. I think the skill lies in recognising false hope from real hope.
Thank you. This is something we all need to work on.
Excellent
Thank you, Jim
Then those who still fight on, laughing at the odds of winning, become legends men still look up to thousands of years later.
You can fight on without having hope, just out of principle. You can have hope and be a coward waiting for things to change on their own, which is the case for the vast majority of hopefuls. If anything, it’s this false hope that keeps them appeased and inert.
That still makes the sun tzu quote funny as hell