“It’s better to be an optimist who is sometimes wrong than a pessimist who is always right.”
- Mark Twain, American writer and humorist
🧠 Who was Mark Twain?
- Lived: 1835-1910
- Known as: One of America’s greatest writers, humorists, and social commentators
- Famous for:
- Authoring Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Using satire to critique social norms, politics, and human behavior
- Writing essays, speeches, and travelogues full of wit and wisdom
- Contributions:
- Highlighted human folly and hypocrisy through humor
- Influenced American literature and culture profoundly
- Popularized the use of vernacular speech in novels
The quote encourages optimistic thinking.
It suggests that choosing optimism, even if occasionally wrong,
is better than being perpetually pessimistic and “always right.”
In other words:
- Optimism fosters hope, resilience, and action.
- Pessimism may be accurate but can lead to stagnation or negativity.
The challenge is to embrace hope and take risks, rather than remaining safe but cynical.