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Line 1: − − The term came to be used as meaning someone who looks for the positive side of a situation and anticipates the most positive outcome of a venture. − − An optimist is one who looks at a glass of water that is half-full and half-empty, and focuses on how it is half-full. A [[pessimist]] focuses on how it is half-empty. − − French author [[Voltaire]] mocked the concept in his novel ''[[Candide]]'' (1759), ridiculing [[Leibniz]]'s notion that this is the best of all possible worlds. − − An old [[Russian]] joke says a pessimist believes that things cannot possibly get worse while an optimist is confident that they surely can. − − [[Antonym]]: [[Pessimist]]
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[[Image:Glass-half-full.jpg|thumb|280px]]
[[Image:Glass-half-full.jpg|thumb|280px]]
The term '''optimist''' was originally applied to those who adhered to the [[philosophy]] of optimism. This declared that the world was the best of all possible worlds, as it was created by [[God]]. Therefore, even what appeared bad was actually part of God's perfection.
The term '''optimist''' was originally applied to those who adhered to the [[philosophy]] of optimism. This declared that the world was the best of all possible worlds, as it was created by [[God]]. Therefore, even what appeared bad was actually part of God's perfection.
== See also ==
== See also ==