The optimist lives under a clear sky:
the pessimist lives in a fog.
The pessimist hesitates and loses both time and opportunity:
the optimist makes the best use of everything now
and builds himself up, steadily and surely,
until all adversity is overcome and the object of view realized.
The pessimist curbs his energies
and concentrates his whole attention upon failure;
the optimist gives all his thought and power to the attainment of success,
and arouses his faculties and forces to the highest point of efficiency.
The pessimist waits for better times
and expects to keep on waiting;
the optimist goes to work with the best that is at hand now,
and proceeds to create better times.
The pessimist pour cold water on the fires of his own ability;
the optimist adds fuel to those fires.
The pessimist links his mind to everything that loses ground;
the optimist lives, thinks and works with everything
that is determined to press on.
The pessimist places a damper on everything;
the optimist gives life, fire and go to everything.
The optimist is a building force;
the pessimist is always an obstacle in the way of progress.
The pessimist lives in a dark, soggy unproductive world,
the optimist lives in that mental substance that makes all things grow.
