--- title: Pessimism is an Indulgence - Despair an Insult to the Imagination description: Optimism prevails over pessimism and despair image: https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/optimis%20prevails%20over%20pessimims%20and%20doispair.jpeg --- ###### [Check out Our latest insights on Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog) [![Centre for Optimism_Logo](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Home](https://www.centreforoptimism.com) - [Subscribe](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/subscribe) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - [The Optimism Principle](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/theoptimismprinciple) - [Need Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/services-and-workshops) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - [Victor Perton - That Optimism Man](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/victorperton) - [Magnetic Optimism for Organisations](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/magnetic-optimism-workshops) ![Close Icon (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg) ![Search (2)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Search%20(2).svg) ###### [Pessimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/pessimism) , ###### [Despair](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/despair) # Pessimism is an Indulgence - Despair an Insult to the Imagination **"If we are really facing an existential threat, as I think the science would suggest, we have to address it with optimism, recognising that pessimism is an indulgence, despair always an insult to the imagination, just as orthodoxy is the enemy of invention****,**" said Wade Davis in conversation with James Strock   More sound advice?   Wade said, **"I tend to be eternally** **optimistic because I don't think as a father and grandfather you have any choice."**   **Listen in to the full Podcast Conversation: [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/serve-to-lead-james-strock/id1467295170?i=1000681966227](https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/serve-to-lead-james-strock/id1467295170?i=1000681966227)** [Written by Victor Perton](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton) ##### Keep up to date with the latest from Centre for Optimism ##### We appreciate any contribution you can make to help us spread optimism with the world [![Give Today](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/21889975/daed54ec-1173-4b99-9390-e69152e87436) #### Here are some similar articles ###### [Art](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/art) , ###### [Depression](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/depression) , ###### [Walt Disney](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/walt-disney) , ###### [Pessimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/pessimism) , ###### [Podcast](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/tag/podcast) #### [Optimism as Antidote: Rich Wilkie’s Journey from Pessimism to Purpose](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/richwilkie?hsLang=en) [Read Article](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/richwilkie?hsLang=en) ## Connect With Us ##### We love to connect with everyone who is ready to open up and share their optimisim. - [![Facebook 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Center%20of%20Optimism%20Assets/Facebook%202.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/optimistsvoices/) - [![instagram (6)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/instagram%20(6).svg)](https://www.instagram.com/centreforoptimism/?hl=en) - [![linked in 2](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/linked%20in%202.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/centreforoptimism/) - [![youtube (3)](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/youtube%20(3).svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFd4GnToz3WLasQSfsz_z8w) - [![twitter](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Centre4Optimism) #### Keep up to date with the latest from The Centre for Optimism ##### Contact Us Call Us: [+61 417 217 241](tel:+61%20417%20217%20241) (Australia) PO Box 5081, Garden City, Victoria 3207, Australia ##### [The Centre for Optimism](https://www.centreforoptimism.com?hsLang=en) - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### [Services](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop?hsLang=en) - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ##### The Centre for Optimism - [Why Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whyoptimism) - [What is Optimism?](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/whatisoptimism) - Why be Optimistic? - Our Advisory board ##### Our Research - What makes People Optimistic? - Transformation and Change - [The Better Normal](https://thecentreforoptimism.wildapricot.org/The-Better-Normal) - Strategy and Optimism ##### Join Us - Become a Patron - Join the Optimism Movement - Volunteer ##### Services - [The Optimism Workshop](https://www.centreforoptimism.com/workshop) - The Optimism Roundtable - Beacons Of Optimism Workshop - [The Habits of an Optimist](https://www.projectoptimism.com.au/courses/optimism-can-be-learnt-the-habits-of-an-optimist/) ©2026 The Centre for Optimism - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Victor Perton", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/author/victor-perton" }, "dateModified" : "2024-12-28T22:23:56.476Z", "datePublished" : "2024-12-28T22:23:56.000Z", "headline" : "Pessimism is an Indulgence - Despair an Insult to the Imagination", "image" : [ "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/optimis%20prevails%20over%20pessimims%20and%20doispair.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/blog/wade", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.centreforoptimism.com/hubfs/Centre%20for%20Optimism_Logo.svg" }, "name" : "The Centre for Optimism" } } ```