The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves. The basis of optimism is sheer terror.

About Oscar Wilde

Portrait of Oscar Wilde

Oscar Fingal O'Fflahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish author, poet and playwright. After writing in different literary styles throughout the 1880s, he became one of the most popular and influential dramatists in London in the early 1890s. He was a key figure in...

More quotations from Oscar Wilde

The true meaning of religion is thus not simply morality, but morality touched by emotion.

Whenever a man does a thoroughly stupid thing, it is always from the noblest motives.

Morality, like art, means drawing a line someplace.

The higher the buildings, the lower the morals.

Many species reciprocate, but only humans gossip, and much of what we gossip about is the vale of other people as partners for reciprocal relationships.

More quotations tagged with “optimism”

The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; and the pessimist fears this is true.

—James Branch Cabell

The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum.

—Havelock Ellis

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.

—Colin Powell

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.

optimism effort attitude

I'm optimistic about the future, but not about the future of this civilization. I'm optimistic about the civilization which will replace this one.

—James Baldwin

optimism future civilization

History

11 Jul 2015 Added