Great optimists and pessimists. The most pessimistic forecasts for the future the coolest advantages of a pessimist

Krasnoyarsk resident Yulia Solonets found a report from the library of the Siberian Railway in Tomsk and published on her Facebook page a list of authors who were most loved at the beginning of the 20th century. Opposite each name is the number of volumes that library visitors took in 1913.

1. Leo Tolstoy - 1,689 volumes

In first place is the thunderstorm of Russian schoolchildren. And this is not surprising. People still read about Lev Nikolaevich to this day.

2. Alexander Amfitheatrov - 1,086 volumes

It is unlikely that anyone without Wikipedia will now say that he wrote Amphitheaters. And he wrote a lot: about 30 novels, many short stories and journalistic works. Why they don’t read him now is, in principle, understandable: the novels “Victoria Pavlovna” and “Victoria Pavlovna’s Daughter” were interesting to contemporaries, but now the characters are completely different.

3. Anastasia Verbitskaya - 1,015 volumes

4. Vasily Nemirovich-Danchenko - 911 volumes

5. Fyodor Dostoevsky - 902 volumes

Dostoevsky lagged behind Tolstoy, but entered the top five most popular writers of the early 20th century. It's time to remember about it and read something beyond the compulsory program.

6. Anton Chekhov - 829 volumes

One of the most popular and famous Russian writers, who is highly valued all over the world. Useful to read and re-read.

7. Ivan Myasnitsky (Baryshev) - 790 volumes

8. Ignatius Potapenko - 776 volumes

He wrote a lot and was incredibly popular among the general public, but did not leave works that would be read 100 years later.

9. Henryk Sienkiewicz - 753 volumes

Polish writer who became famous for his large-scale historical novels. They are still read and even filmed.

10. Vsevolod Solovyov - volume 731

Vsevolod Solovyov wrote many historical novels about Russia. But they study more the work of his brother, philosopher Vladimir Solovyov.

11. Evgeniy Salias - 696 volumes

He wrote adventure novels about kings and powerful people in historical settings. It was incredibly popular, but completely forgotten.

12. Dmitry Mamin-Sibiryak - 670 volumes

Nowadays only his essays about nature and fairy tales for children are read, and his works for adults about how life changed after the revolution are forgotten.

13. Maxim Gorky - 590 volumes

14. Ivan Turgenev - 559 volumes

Turgenev is read mainly at school. Turgenev's girls are remembered throughout their lives. Do you remember what else he wrote about?

15. Nikolai Leikin - 552 volumes

A humorist and satirist, his books were republished many times before the revolution and were even prohibited from being translated. But humor has not stood the test of time.

16. Leonid Andreev - volume 551

17. Ivan Goncharov - 498 volumes

18. Kazimir Barantsevich - 409 volumes

He described mainly the life of ordinary people and was considered one of the most pessimistic authors.

19. Olga Shapir - 408 volumes

She wrote for women about women, family and love, and at the same time participated in public life and was an active feminist. Completely forgotten.

20. Alexander Ostrovsky - volume 371

There is an opinion that it is better to watch plays. Moreover, Ostrovsky is still being actively staged. But reading does not impose the director’s point of view on the work.

10 coolest advantages of being a pessimist

The benefits of positive thinking are clear to any fool. That's it, fool! And pessimists, firstly, are smart, and secondly, we will now explain in detail what kind of happy, prudent and generally nice people we are, whiners.

Pessimist - smart

A gloomy look is guaranteed to give you a certain aura of intelligence. If the appearance also hides genuine blackest cynicism, then the glory of the first smart guy in the party is guaranteed. It is not without reason that they say that in much knowledge there is much sorrow. It also works in the opposite direction: whoever is very sad is, apparently, painfully smart (and not just a wallet, like a fool, she forgot in the fitting room).

Pessimist - invulnerable

By the way, about wallets. Pessimism is a real salvation for tired introverts who do not want to share money or show how to get to Maly Kakovinsky Lane. As soon as you remember the global economic crisis, your face becomes such that everyone who wants to sit on your neck begins to look for someone kinder, like Valuev.

Pessimist - psychotherapist

Rational pessimism (also sometimes emotional) helps to overestimate reality. Let's say two pessimists are going on vacation. Emotional freaks out because of a phobia of airplanes. And the rational one tells him about the statistics of car accidents. As a result, both of them quietly take a taxi to the airport, buckle up, and pray that it will pass. On the plane they exhale. To paraphrase an anecdote about a psychologist, to the question “So, you don’t pee at night anymore?” a pessimist would answer: “I’m peeing, but given the risk of heart disease at my age, this is such nonsense.”

Pessimist is lucky

The pessimist is always right

You already know this point without us, but we’ll mention it anyway. With pessimism, you are always Vanga and the guru of political analytics. In the end, sooner or later, currencies fall, governments fall, thieves steal, murderers kill, and he is not a match for you, because mom was right. You'll guess somewhere. But the forecast: “By eating this shawarma, you will receive a charge of energy that will allow you to work fruitfully,” reveals a positive idiot robot in a person. See the first item on our list.

The pessimist is always ready

But seriously, some scientists (British, probably, what else) calculated that pessimists live longer than optimists because they are better prepared for troubles. When packing a first aid kit for your dacha, you should definitely trust the pessimist. And it’s better to just go for a walk with your child as a pessimist, and not imagining that the sun will shine all the way, a pleasant breeze will blow, mosquitoes have flown to the south, and cigarette butts and puddles have run away after them.

A pessimist is lucky with people

People who say thank you and please at the right moments in life, repay debts and do not wipe their hands on the tablecloth, from the point of view of a pessimist, are not normal polite people, but simply heroes. Therefore, his world is full of wonderful comrades and friends. Well, if they still secretly pick their noses, well, why worry, because the pessimist KNEW SO.

The pessimist is adequate

He has the healthiest self-esteem. No flattery gets him. A pessimist does not spend time and effort creating a positive image of himself. He doesn’t tell himself any nonsense in front of the mirror. Why all this rubbish? The heat death of the universe is inevitable, the universe is constantly expanding, and so am I, so accept us and the cosmos as we are.

A pessimist is a good friend

It's good to be around suspiciously cheerful, optimistic people in bright times. But in the dark, it’s somehow awkward to disturb their well-being with your problems. And here you need a pessimist. He never doubted that things would be bad for you. Things are terrible for him too. So he will definitely listen to you and understand. And he’ll throw everyone in a Panama hat, and in the end, maybe you’ll forget about your trouble.

Pessimist - humorist

There is no need to memorize stories and anecdotes; a pessimist is witty simply due to contrast. Let's say the interlocutors began to discuss childhood, trips to parks, rides on roller coasters and carousels, wonderful years. And you keep up the conversation and say: by the way, I have a friend who was stuck on a train in a loop. And everyone is giggling nervously from stress. In general, the only drawback of pessimism is accusations of despondency and tediousness. But if you are a pessimist, then you expect them in advance, so you can safely say: I’m so happy! Be grateful that you haven't seen me in a bad mood yet

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Great optimists

The greatest optimist, without a doubt, can be called Louis XIV. He enjoyed life in all its manifestations, surrounded himself with the most beautiful women, got carried away, fell in love, had affairs. It is no coincidence that his reign remained a bright period in the history of France, filled with various events that concerned both the king himself and his immediate circle.

Great pessimists

The wife of Louis XIV, the Spanish princess, Infanta Maria Teresa, was a very pessimistic woman. She was timid, uninteresting, loved silence, was mostly alone, and spent her time in prayer or reading. It is no wonder that the life-loving monarch Louis XIV did not pay any attention to her, preferring to have fun on the side.

Great optimists

Marshal Richelieu, the great-grandnephew of the great cardinal, was known as a flighty man and fond of women. Having replaced three wives and many mistresses, he was very lenient about female infidelity. Finding his wife with her lover, he cheerfully advised her to be careful in order to avoid awkward situations, because someone else could be in his place.

Great optimists

One of the French presidents, Charles de Gaulle, was very optimistic. People who interacted with him during the development of his political career noted his inexhaustible faith in success. It was thanks to this faith that de Gaulle was able to eventually gain the presidency.

Great pessimists

The famous sculptor Michelangelo was distinguished by a rather quarrelsome character and unattractive appearance. All his life he searched for a feeling consonant with his own, but he never succeeded in this matter, which gradually led him into deep melancholy.

Great optimists

Among great people, Jean Jacques Rousseau was considered one of the greatest optimists. This Frenchman considered man the greatest creation of the Universe, a perfect being, initially without any shortcomings. He was also optimistic about everyday life. He met all life's failures, even the most serious ones, with a smile, which greatly surprised his friends and relatives. There is a known case when, because of his optimism, he even quarreled with his wife, who considered his reaction to troubles too easy.

Great optimists

The great Italian actress Sophia Loren is known for her optimism. While still very young, she, armed only with her own beauty and faith in luck, decided to get out of the poverty that surrounded her. Sophia Loren's optimism has not diminished with age. The great actress, as her friends note, takes any trouble with a smile and knows how to find positive aspects in it.

Great pessimists

Depesh mode lead singer Dave Gahan expresses his pessimism in his creativity. The lyrics suggest thoughts about the imperfection of the world, and the music is chosen accordingly. Gahan's pessimism has already become the feature that distinguishes this group from many others, its unique brand.

Great optimists

The Russian ballerina Maya Plisetskaya was an optimist. Perhaps a successful career influenced the ballerina’s attitude, or perhaps her personal life. Be that as it may, the students of her school in Madrid noted: “Maya Mikhailovna’s optimism was truly inexhaustible, she knew how to infect us with it.”

Great optimists

For two-time world champion in Formula 1 auto racing, German Michael Schumacher, it was optimism that helped him recover from a serious injury and return to the sport. Michael's friends did not expect that he would decide to return, but faith in luck does not leave the great racer. “I was lucky that everything ended well. So, we’ll continue to be lucky.”

Great optimists

The famous French couturier Pierre Cardin is distinguished by his light character and optimism. He believes in luck, knows how to use it, and fortune favors him. His colleagues believe that Cardin's optimism helped him become popular and gain worldwide fame.

Vel some pessimists

The great composer Ludwig van Beethoven had a pessimistic view of the world. However, life was not particularly pampering for him. The genius did not find recognition, and besides, beautiful ladies did not favor him with their affection. All his life, the brilliant composer had to limit himself to friendly relations with beauties, for whom he often had a genuine passion.

Great optimists

The great Soviet composer Sergei Prokofiev was distinguished by his optimism. Despite the fact that his work did not find a response in society, but, on the contrary, was condemned in every possible way, he continued to write music full of light, life and sun. He knew how not to transfer his problems to his creativity, which to this day inspires optimism in our souls.

Great pessimists

The French writer Victor Hugo is known for his pessimism. All the memories left by his contemporaries testify to this. The following entry was found in the diary of a Parisian artist: “He told me that all his past troubles were nothing compared to those that awaited him ahead. Hugo was always a little gloomy, but this time he outdid himself."

Great optimists

Probably no other poet enjoyed such popularity and appreciation during his lifetime as Voltaire. At one time, among his contemporaries, he occupied the place of almost a demigod, since it was he who was worshiped as a supreme being. Often his opinion on something meant more than the word of some high-ranking official. Despite his external ugliness, Voltaire never lost his excellent spirits and natural love of life.

Great pessimists

The great English writer Charles Dickens was very unhappy in his marriage. Perhaps it was precisely this circumstance that left an indelible imprint on the writer’s worldview. Gradually, he forgot how to enjoy life and, despite the grandiose evenings that he organized for prominent personalities of that time, he could not fully enjoy his well-being and social position.

Great optimists

The poet Goethe is considered to be a true darling of fate. At least in everything that concerned his relationships with the opposite sex, as well as in matters of creativity, fate was favorable to this brilliant man. Women idolized him, and already in his early youth the poet achieved universal recognition and fame.

Great pessimists

The Russian writer Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol was a pessimist. His sense of self was dictated by the peculiarities of the era and was reflected in his work of the late period. Even in successful days, Gogol was distrustful of his happiness and considered it accidental. “Luck is fickle,” the writer liked to say.

Great optimists

Dale Carnegie can be considered the greatest optimist. He was able to develop a theory that allows him not only to improve his mood, but also to maintain it constantly. Dale Carnegie has gained true popularity throughout the world precisely because his principles are both simple and effective. The most interesting thing is that Carnegie more than successfully used his theories in his own life, thanks to which he achieved a lot.

Great pessimists

There are not many pessimists among the representatives of the Russian intelligentsia, since their inherent qualities were not reflected in the nature of the Russian person. Perhaps one of the creative people closest to the pessimistic doctrine among our compatriots is Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov:

And it’s boring, and sad, and there’s no one to give a hand to

In a moment of spiritual adversity...

Desires!.. What is the use of wishing in vain and forever?..

And the years pass - all the best years!

To love... But who?.. For a while - it’s not worth the trouble,

And it is impossible to love forever.

Great optimists

The greatest optimist, without a doubt, can be called Louis XIV. He enjoyed life in all its manifestations, surrounded himself with the most beautiful women, got carried away, fell in love, had affairs. It is no coincidence that his reign remained a bright period in the history of France, filled with various events that concerned both the king himself and his immediate circle.

Great pessimists

A very pessimistic woman was the wife of Louis XIV - a Spanish princess, infanta Maria Teresa. She was timid, uninteresting, loved silence, was mostly alone, and spent her time in prayer or reading. It is no wonder that the life-loving monarch Louis XIV did not pay any attention to her, preferring to have fun on the side.

Great optimists

Marshal Richelieu, the great-grandnephew of the great cardinal, was known as a flighty man and fond of women. Having replaced three wives and many mistresses, he was very lenient about female infidelity. Finding his wife with her lover, he cheerfully advised her to be careful in order to avoid awkward situations, because someone else could be in his place.

Great optimists

One of the Presidents of France Charles de Gaulle was very optimistic. People who interacted with him during the development of his political career noted his inexhaustible faith in success. It was thanks to this faith that de Gaulle was able to eventually gain the presidency.

Great pessimists

Famous sculptor Michelangelo He was distinguished by a rather quarrelsome character and unattractive appearance. All his life he searched for a feeling consonant with his own, but he never succeeded in this matter, which gradually led him into deep melancholy.

Great optimists

Among great people, one of the greatest optimists was considered Jean Jacques Rousseau. This Frenchman considered man the greatest creation of the Universe, a perfect being, initially without any shortcomings. He was also optimistic about everyday life. He met all life's failures, even the most serious ones, with a smile, which greatly surprised his friends and relatives. There is a known case when, because of his optimism, he even quarreled with his wife, who considered his reaction to troubles too easy.

Great optimists

Great Italian actress Sophia Loren known for her optimism. While still very young, she, armed only with her own beauty and faith in luck, decided to get out of the poverty that surrounded her. Sophia Loren's optimism has not diminished with age. The great actress, as her friends note, takes any trouble with a smile and knows how to find positive aspects in it.

Great pessimists

Lead singer of Depesh mode Dave Gahan expresses his pessimism in his creativity. The lyrics suggest thoughts about the imperfection of the world, and the music is chosen accordingly. Gahan's pessimism has already become the feature that distinguishes this group from many others, its unique brand.

Great optimists

The Russian ballerina was an optimist Maya Plisetskaya. Perhaps a successful career influenced the ballerina’s attitude, or perhaps her personal life. Be that as it may, the students of her school in Madrid noted: “Maya Mikhailovna’s optimism was truly inexhaustible, she knew how to infect us with it.”

Great optimists

To the two-time Formula 1 world champion, German Michael Schumacher It was optimism that helped him recover from a serious injury and return to sports. Michael's friends did not expect that he would decide to return, but faith in luck does not leave the great racer. “I was lucky that everything ended well. So, we’ll continue to be lucky.”

Great optimists

Famous French couturier Pierre Cardin has a light character and optimism. He believes in luck, knows how to use it, and fortune favors him. His colleagues believe that Cardin's optimism helped him become popular and gain worldwide fame.

Great pessimists

Great composer Ludwig van Beethoven had a pessimistic view of the world. However, life was not particularly pampering for him. The genius did not find recognition, and besides, beautiful ladies did not favor him with their affection. All his life, the brilliant composer had to limit himself to friendly relations with beauties, for whom he often had a genuine passion.

Great optimists

The great Soviet composer was distinguished by optimism Sergei Prokofiev. Despite the fact that his work did not find a response in society, but on the contrary, was condemned in every possible way, he continued to write music full of light, life and sun. He knew how not to transfer his problems to his creativity, which to this day inspires optimism in our souls.

Great pessimists

French writer known for his pessimism Victor Hugo. All the memories left by his contemporaries testify to this. The following entry was found in the diary of a Parisian artist: “He told me that all his past troubles were nothing compared to those that awaited him ahead. Hugo was always a little gloomy, but this time he outdid himself."

Great optimists

Probably no poet enjoyed such popularity and appreciation during his lifetime as Voltaire. At one time, among his contemporaries, he occupied the place of almost a demigod, since it was he who was worshiped as a supreme being. Often his opinion on something meant more than the word of some high-ranking official. Despite his external ugliness, Voltaire never lost his excellent spirits and natural love of life.

Great pessimists

Great English writer Charles Dickens was very unhappy in his marriage. Perhaps it was precisely this circumstance that left an indelible imprint on the writer’s worldview. Gradually, he forgot how to enjoy life and, despite the grandiose evenings that he organized for prominent personalities of that time, he could not fully enjoy his well-being and social position.

Great optimists

Poet Goethe It is considered to be a true darling of fate. At least in everything that concerned his relationships with the opposite sex, as well as in matters of creativity, fate was favorable to this brilliant man. Women idolized him, and already in his early youth the poet achieved universal recognition and fame.

Great pessimists

The Russian writer was a pessimist Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. His sense of self was dictated by the peculiarities of the era and was reflected in his work of the late period. Even in successful days, Gogol was distrustful of his happiness and considered it accidental. “Luck is fickle,” the writer liked to say.

Great optimists

The greatest optimist can be considered Dale Carnegie. He was able to develop a theory that allows him not only to improve his mood, but also to maintain it constantly. Dale Carnegie has gained true popularity throughout the world precisely because his principles are both simple and effective. The most interesting thing is that Carnegie more than successfully used his theories in his own life, thanks to which he achieved a lot.

Great pessimists

And it’s boring, and sad, and there’s no one to give a hand to

In a moment of spiritual adversity...

Desires!.. What is the use of wishing in vain and forever?..

And the years pass - all the best years!

To love... But who?.. For a while - it’s not worth the effort,

And it is impossible to love forever.

Will you look into yourself? There is no trace of the past:

And joy, and torment, and everything there is insignificant...

People have always wanted to look into the future, and many have tried to make predictions. However, not every one of them was destined to come true. Below are the most pessimistic predictions made by various people over the past 200 years. None of them came true.

About events

“Everything that can be invented has already been invented.” Charles Dewell, US Patent Office Representative, 1899

“I don’t see any justifiable reason why the views expressed in my book could offend anyone’s religious feelings.” Charles Darwin, Preface to On the Origin of Species, 1869

“If one thing will remain constant, it will be the role of women in society.” David Reisman, American social scientist, conservative, 1967

"Democracy will die in 1950." John Langdon-Davies, correspondent for the English newspaper "News Chronicle", 1936

“In all likelihood, global inflation is over.” International Monetary Fund Manual, 1959

“Overcoming AIDS will be as easy as shelling pears. It's not contagious! Peter Duesberg, professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of California at Berkeley (USA), 1988

“Sane and responsible women do not need the right to vote.” Hoover Cleveland, US President, 1905

“It will take humanity more than 50 years to conquer the air.” Wilbur Wright, American aviation pioneer, 1903

“There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime has weapons of mass destruction. Further operations will make it possible to identify these weapons and neutralize them in the same way as the people who developed and protected them.” Tommy Franks, US Army General, 2003

About the light bulb

“...not a bad invention for our transatlantic friends...but it absolutely does not deserve the attention of practical people with a scientific mindset.” British Parliamentary Committee, 1878

“Anyone who is at all familiar with this invention will say that it is an obvious failure.” Henry Morton, Chairman of the Stevens Institute of Technology, USA, 1880

About cars

“The horse will remain the most reliable means of transportation. The car is just another fashion trend that will soon pass.” The president of the Michigan Savings Bank tried to convince Henry Ford not to invest in Ford Motor Co., 1903.

“The automotive industry has reached the pinnacle of its development. Nothing new can be invented.” Editorial board of Scientific American, 1909

“A horseless carriage is a sign of luxury and wealth, and even if its price falls in the future, it will never become as popular as a bicycle.” Literary Digest Magazine, 1899

About airplanes

“Flying with machines that are heavier than air is impossible.” Lord Kelvin, British mathematician and physicist, Chairman of the British Royal Society, 1895

“Airplanes are quite interesting toys, but they are of no interest to the military.” Ferdinand Foch, Marshal of France, member of the French Academy, 1904

About computers

“In the future, the weight of computers could be reduced to just 1.5 tons. If this succeeds, it will consist of only 1,000 vacuum tubes.” Scientific magazine Popular Mechanics, 1949

"I think there is room in the global market for maybe five computers." Thomas Watson, head of IBM, 1943

“There is no reason why anyone would want to have a computer in their home.” Ken Olson, founder, president and chairman of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977

“Well, why is all this needed?” Comment on the microchip by an engineer in IBM's Advanced Computer Systems Division, 1968.

About radio

"Radio has no future." Lord Kelvin, British mathematician and physicist, Chairman of the British Royal Society, 1897

“It is impossible to imagine any commercial application for this wireless barrel organ. Who would pay for a message sent to nowhere, without a specific addressee? One of David Sarnoff's comrades responding to his call for investment in radio development, 1921.

About space travel

“There is virtually no chance that satellites will be able to improve the transmission of television and radio signals in the United States.” T. Craven, FCC Representative, 1961

“Space travel is nonsense.” Harold Spencer Jones, British astronomer, 1957

"The rocket will never be able to fly beyond the Earth's atmosphere." New York Times, 1936

About television and cinema

“Television won’t last long because people will soon get tired of looking into polished wooden boxes.” Darryl Zanuck, film producer at 20th Century Fox, 1946

“Who wants to listen to actors talk anyway?” H. M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927

About nuclear energy

“Research in the field of nuclear technology is one of the biggest mistakes made by humanity. It will not be possible to create a nuclear bomb. I’m telling you this as an expert.” American Admiral William Leahy, 1944

“Nuclear energy is no more dangerous than the explosives we have today.” Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister, 1939

“The likelihood that a person will be able to seize the power of the atom is negligible.” Robert Millican, American physicist, Nobel Prize winner, 1923

Based on materials from the site 2spare.com prepared by Alexander Timoshik