A bit of healthy pessimism

I often find myself observing and reminding my interlocutors that it is difficult not to be pessimistic. Optimism, in fact, is itself a form of disguised pessimism. If things in this world normally went well, there would be no reason to be optimistic.

Instead of disguised pessimism, I maintain the usefulness of being openly and explicitly pessimistic. It is easy for me to explain why.

When one expects the worst, there are two possible cases. It may well be that what we fear actually comes to pass. But if we have foreseen it, we have reckoned with it, and to some extent have already grown accustomed to the idea. Above all, the feared disaster, precisely because it was feared, does not take us by surprise. It may, however, also happen that what we fear does not occur at all. In this case, aware of having been fortunate, it is natural to leap with heartfelt joy.

This small personal philosophy, based on systematic pessimism, has helped me greatly in the course of my long life.