¶ Reverse Optimism
← Reverse Fountain Flow | Reversibility →
Cross Reference
Reverse Optimism:
"Optimism is usually thought of as constituting a mildly unwarranted hopefulness in respect to the future. But there is a reverse projection of optimism in the nostalgia-generated myths that recall only the rare and sublime moments of yesterday. Forgetting the negative, reverse optimism overemphasizes, thus deliberately shuts its eyes to reality, and is therefore unable to see the values immediately present.
“I am convinced that we are swiftly emerging from the abysmal conformities of yesterday’s illiterate, spit-punctuated profanity and monosyllabic verbalism, in which rags, filth, diseased bodies, prevalent stenches, devastating superstition, and local bias reigned supreme.”
¶ Cross-References
- Conformity, 10 Oct’63
¶ Citations
- THE PROSPECT FOR HUMANITY, WDSB Doc. 3, p.74, Aug’64
