Optimist or Pessimist?	
QUICK CHECK:
1.	 Define:		a)	Optimist.		b)	Pessimist.
2.	 Wintle:	a)	Where	does	success	begin?		b)	 Who		
is	the	man	who	wins?	
3.	 Truman:		a)	What	is	a	pessimist?		b)	 What	is	an		
optimist?	
4.	 Shaw:	Who	is	a	pessimist?
5.	 Lincoln:		a)	 Why	can	we	complain?		b)	 Why		
can	we	rejoice	(be	happy)?	
6.	 Shaw:		What	do	the	following	do?		a)	Pessimist.	
	 b)	Optimist.		c)	Realist.
7.	 Emerson:		a)	 What	are	2	small	matters?		
	 b)	What	is	the	important	matter?		c)	Do	you		
agree	with	Emerson?		d)	Give	a	reason	for	your	
answer.	
8.	 Even	though	I	am	but	one,	what	can	I	do?
9.	 a)	If	you	were	the	manger	of	a	retail	store,		
would	you	prefer	to	hire	a	sales	associate	with	
an	optimistic	or	pessimistic	attitude	towards		
	 customers?		b)	Give	a	reason	for	your	answer.
10.	 a)	Which	quote	do	you	like?		b)	Give	a	reason		
for	your	answer.	
Optimist:	 Trusts	that	things	will	get	better.
Pessimist:	 Thinks	that	the	worst	will	happen	
If	you	think	you	are	beaten,	you	are.
If	you	think	you	dare	not,	you	don’t!
If	you	want	to	win,	but	think	you	can’t,	
It’s	almost	a	cinch	you	won’t	
If	you	think	you’ll	lose,	you’re	lost.	
For	out	in	the	world	we	find,	
Success	begins	with	a	fellow’s	will.	
It’s	all	in	the	state	of	the	mind.
Life’s	battles	don’t	always	go,
To	the	stronger	and	faster	man,	
But	sooner	or	later	the	man	who	wins,	
Is	the	man	who	thinks	he	can.	
—Walter	Wintle	
A	pessimist	is	one	who	makes	difficulties	of	his	
opportunities,	and	an	optimist	is	one	who	makes	
opportunities	of	his	difficulties.			—Harry	 Truman
There	is	no	sadder	sight	than	a	young	pessimist.
	 	 	 	 —Mark	Twain
Pessimist:	a	person	who	thinks	everybody	is	as	
nasty	as	himself,	and	hates	them	for	it.	
	 	 	 —George	Bernard	Shaw
We	can	complain	because	rose	bushes	have	thorns;	
or	rejoice	because	thorn	bushes	have	roses.
	 	 	 —Abraham	Lincoln
The	pessimist	complains	about	the	wind	—	the	
optimist	expects	the	wind	to	change	—	the	realist	
adjusts	the	sails.		 	 —William	 Ward	
What	lies	behind	us	and	what	lies	before	us	are	
small	matters	compared	to	what	lies	within	us.	 	
	 	 	 —Ralph	Waldo	Emerson	
I	am	but	one,
But	I	am	one.	
I	cannot	do	everything,
But	I	can	do	something.	
What	I	can	do
I	ought	to	do.	
And	what	I	ought	to	do,
With	the	right	attitude,	
I	will	do.	
Ability	is	what	you	are	capable	of	doing.		
Motivation	determines	what	you	do.		 Attitude	
determines	how	well	you	do	it.		 —Lou	Holtz
Stop	searching	the	world	for	treasure.		 The	real	
treasure	is	in	yourself.		 —Pablo	
Thoughts & Quotes