The Rational Optimist Novels & Stories

Why is he and not me? We are born, we grow up and we die. That's the natural order of things. But there is also a second fact that I faithfully believe in. We can always change the way things end. We can always find a solution to a serious problem, turning it into nothing more than a slight headache. Skeptics call this fact Optimism, scientists call it Chaos Theory, and I call it luck.

Optimism is the belief that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence, maybe without you, new strength and new thoughts emerge… 'Not when you're acting like that, trying to rob my show or whatever it is you're doing right now.' '—Is that all part of the game?' Gary gripped the steering wheel tightly. 'All the flirting and kissing? Just a little extra humiliation?' her bitter voice echoed in Gary's ears

"The First Born said we would have multiple attempts if needed. One failure does not mean total disaster." "But multiple failures might drain us too much to succeed at all," she countered. "Dusk, please," her brother Dawn said tiredly. "Can you try optimism just once? Just for today?" "I am being realistic, not pessimistic. There is a difference." "There really is not."

“No, Mae. None of them bother me. Especially not the suburban fantasy thing. I think I’m long overdue the convention of settling down.” I felt tingles. So many tingles. “And you think… that could be us?” He cleared his throat. “I’m a rationalist, not blessed with quite the same runaway imagination you seem to believe is a curse, Miss Chase. But yes, based on my observations of you these past few months, and some private observations I’ve read of yours these past few days, I very much think that could be us.” I’m sure my jaw dropped open.

"I'm not making it up. It's a fact that we have to accept." "Then what?" "I'll find him, then bring him here." "Then Razta? Nothing bad will happen to Razta right?" "I'm not sure myself, Rion." "You said just now as if you were saying that our hopes of curing Razta are slim." "I don't want to say that, you have to be optimistic that Razta can recover and return to normal. But you also have to be realistic when hope starts to run low." "Don't say that. I'm sure Razta will recover."

He touched his own mouth. "I want that," Cale whispered. "We can have it. We just have to survive the week." "The week is long." "We're halfway there." Elion put the painting on the easel, front and center. He turned the disasters to the wall. "We only look at the good one," Elion decided. "That's the rule. Visual reinforcement." "Optimism bias," Cale noted. "Survival strategy." "Acceptable." Elion walked back to the couch. He sat down.

Andrew concluded, 'who is this knight? However, would it be wrong of him to oppose the cynics in favor of these folk? His mind was assuming, 'Probably no, a few joint unfavorable representatives could eradicate a full unit of hopeful serfs.' He got rid of them quickly. Group positivity was more significant than any ability he could educate. He agreed to make an effort and notified his good optimist of the same. The old woman had the right to her ambition more than they merited the right to disagree.

I raised an eyebrow at Kael. “You mean when?” “Optimism. I'm trying this new thing.” “How's that working out?” “Terribly. I'll stick to realistic pessimism.”