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About this quote

What does it mean?
Optimists create things; pessimists foresee risks and create safeguards.
In plain terms
Optimists invent the airplane; pessimists invent the parachute.
What can you take from it?
Value both optimism and caution.

Where it applies

  • project planning
  • engineering
  • decision making

Putting it to work

  • balance optimism with planning
  • anticipate failure

Questions to consider

  • Are you too optimistic?
  • Do you plan for the worst?

Another view

Excessive pessimism can stifle innovation.

More from George Bernard Shaw

  1. Animals are my friends ... and I don't eat my friends.

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  2. But what if he were to have your brains and my beauty?

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  3. America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilisation in between

    Permalink to quote #201

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