Optimists and Pessimists

If the word optimist means anything (which I doubt) [it should mean one who] calls on the universe to justify itself, not because he wishes it to be caught out, but because he really wishes it to be justified.

If the word pessimist means anything (which I doubt) the comforters of Job may be called pessimists. All that they really believe is not that God is good but only that God is so strong that it is judicious to call Him good.

—G.K. Chesterton, Introduction to the Book of Job.