“The basis of optimism is sheer terror.”
Source: The Picture of Dorian Gray
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Oscar Wilde812
Irish writer and poet 1854–1900Related quotes
Bruce Schneier (1963) American computer scientist
[Wired, 2006-08-24, http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,71642-0.html, Refuse to be Terrorized, Schneier, Bruce, 2006-09-08]
Human perception of reality, risk and terrorism
“I don’t believe in optimism. I believe in optimal behavior. That’s a different thing.”
Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) American writer
The Paris Review interview (2010)
“Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.”
Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937) Italian writer, politician, theorist, sociologist and linguist
Variant: Pessimism of the spirit; optimism of the will.
“Find optimism in the inevitable.”
Rem Koolhaas (1944) Dutch architect (b.1944)
From the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/arts/design/03kool.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Rem+Koolhaas&st=nyt&oref=slogin article on Koolhaas and Dubai appearing March 3rd, 2008. Available here: