The devil is an optimist if he thinks he can make people meaner.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Optimism can be dangerous if it assumes people can be made worse.
- In plain terms
- An optimist might think they can make people meaner.
- What can you take from it?
- Be careful with optimism that ignores human nature.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Can people be made worse intentionally?
- Is optimism always good?
Another view
Optimism is often a necessary virtue for progress.
More from Karl Kraus
The closer the look one takes at a word, the greater the distance from which it looks back.
Permalink to quote #41 The real truths are those that can be invented.
Permalink to quote #43 Stupidity is an elemental force for which no earthquake is a match.
Permalink to quote #40
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