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Pessimism is a very easy way out because it is a short view of life. If you look at what is happening around us today, you can't help but feel that life is a terrible complexity of problems. But if you look back a few thousand years, you realize that we have advanced fantastically. If you take a long view, I do not see how you can be pessimistic about the future of mankind.
Robertson Davies
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Pessimism offers a narrow perspective on life, overlooking humanity's progress over time.

Robertson Davies suggests that while it may seem easy to adopt a pessimistic view of life due to the myriad of problems we face, a broader perspective reveals humanity's remarkable achievements over the centuries. By contemplating our past advancements, one can foster a sense of optimism about the future, underlying the importance of a long-term outlook in assessing life's complexities.

Themes

PessimismOptimismPerspectiveProgressLifeFuture

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on current events, one might quote Davies to encourage a more optimistic view of humanity's potential.

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