No one ever became a successful entrepreneur by being pessimistic. However, it’s important to be realistic and understand that things may not always go as planned. That’s why it’s helpful to have a few pessimism quotes in your back pocket, to help you keep things in perspective when times get tough. Here are some of our favorite pessimism quotes for entrepreneurs. Read on to learn why they’re so important, and how you can use them to stay motivated during difficult times.

The best pessimism quotes

1. Isn’t the smell of coffee the best alarm clock? — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

2. Perhaps this new kind of reading will appeal to us after we give it a try. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

3. Band together with the brothers and sisters of misery and never stray. You are the integral part of the deeply depressed. We found you. Hooray. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

4. Pessimism is the key to see what really goes on within our world, the lies and manipulation that circles us all is exposed — Zachary Kroonenburg

5. When we age we shed many skins: ego, arrognace, dominance, self–opionated, unreliable, pessimism, rudeness, selfish, uncaring … Wow, it’s good to be old! — Stephen Richards

6. Thoughts. Your imagination. The voices inside your head. They’re all the same thing and spirit is what fuels it. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

7. You may not have finished today but the work you did got you closer than if you would have done nothing. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

8. Young lovers. If you get it right, it’s amazing what you can share. The challenging part is maintaining it. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

9. What New England is, is a state of mind, a place where dry humor and perpetual disappointment blend to produce an ironic pessimism that folks from away find most perplexing — Willem Lange

10. The genius of evolution lies in the dynamic tension between optimism and pessimism continually correcting each other. — Martin E.P. Seligman

11. If that’s the example you want set, you be the example. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

12. I don’t think you lead by pessimism and cynicism. I think you lead by optimism and enthusiasm and energy. — Patricia Ireland

13. Pessimism is the key to see what really goes on within our world, the lies and manipulation that circles us all is exposed — Zachary Kroonenburg

14. I wouldn’t say that I relax and enjoy anything. But I think my pessimism helps. I never really expect anything good to happen, so when it does, it’s a nice surprise. — Rivers Cuomo

15. You can find negative people everywhere you go. The last thing in the world you want to do is talk to them, because all they’re gonna do is cement pessimism in you! — Rush Limbaugh

16. The soul refuses limits and always affirms an optimism, never a pessimism. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

17. Doubt is a form of pessimism that acts as an agent, which is sent to hinder prosperity on its materilization journey. — Michael Bassey Johnson

18. Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time. — Norman Cousins

19. Isn’t the smell of coffee the best alarm clock? — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

20. This didn’t sound good. It sounded like the optimism was escaping from him. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

21. The big, bad unknown is only that until it is known. Then you look back and wonder what all the fuss and worry was about. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

22. Simplicity starts in the heart, away from negativity and pessimism. — Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Flashes of Thought

23. I’d be somewhat of a lousy writer if I didn’t know what to say. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

24. Men cannot be nice and kind to a woman and have no affection for them. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

25. Inspiration moves one from Pessimism to Optimism, from Doubt to Faith, from Despair to Hope, and from Darkness to Light!–RVM — RVM

26. Don’t let the disappointments of today kill tomorrow’s blessings, destroy the negative flashes of pessimism, and focus on the mirror of optimism. — Michael Bassey Johnson

27. Doubt is a form of pessimism that acts as an agent, which is sent to hinder prosperity on its materilization journey. — Michael Bassey Johnson

28. The big, bad unknown is only that until it is known. Then you look back and wonder what all the fuss and worry was about. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

29. One shot is all anyone needs if they back themselves and do it right. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

30. With a little bit of spirit in her system to help her weave the lies and facts together, Emily told the partial truth. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

31. Little Pessimism in life reminds of staying alive and not wandering in a fairy land. — Vikram Adhikari

32. If you work hard all day and all night, something may come of it. You never know, it just might. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

33. Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time. — Norman Cousins

34. The official strategy is defensive pessimism, always. — Veronica Roth

35. The old author knew all too well that the imagination was a top cause for missing good meals. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

36. Pessimism is the key to see what really goes on within our world, the lies and manipulation that circles us all is exposed — Zachary Kroonenburg

37. Confidence isn’t optimism or pessimism, and it’s not a character attribute. It’s the expectation of a positive outcome. — Rosabeth Moss Kanter

38. I don’t think you lead by pessimism and cynicism. I think you lead by optimism and enthusiasm and energy. — Patricia Ireland

39. The old author knew all too well that the imagination was a top cause for missing good meals. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

40. Pessimism is an excuse for not trying and a guarantee to a personal failure. — William J. Clinton

41. And I thought Ereaders could not become any more dreadful. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

42. My pessimism has never been flabby.–Jean — Paul Sartre

43. You can’t lose sleep over should–of’s and could–of’s. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

44. What New England is, is a state of mind, a place where dry humor and perpetual disappointment blend to produce an ironic pessimism that folks from away find most perplexing — Willem Lange

45. Never express your adverse thinking to any buddy, they will change your every opinion into pessimism. — Muhammad Riaz

46. Don’t dare try to be heroes. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

47. Do you know what the best and worst thing about a book is? The author can’t answer all your questions, only your imagination can. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

48. The old author knew all too well that the imagination was a top cause for missing good meals. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

49. If you believe the world is conspiring against you it will just do that — you will help on by your pessimism action to prove you are right.

50. The memory will most likely come to me when I least expect it. When I’m in the middle of something else. — S.A. Tawks, The Spirit of Pessimism

Conclusion

Pessimism is a tool to help us deal with difficult situations and focus on the positive, while also recognizing the reality of negative situations. Pessimism can help us remain level-headed and focus on finding solutions. The best quotes about pessimism remind us that it is possible to stay motivated and hopeful even in the face of adversity. We just need to remember that even in the darkest of times, there is always something to be grateful for and something to strive for.