I’ll tell you the difference between our countries. Americans think life is serious but not hopeless; the English that life is hopeless but not serious.

You know the only rule you need to know to get on in this country? ‘Never complain, never explain.

I'm not a pessimist at all, but I'm not an optimist, either.

His (my father's) general belief in life's well-being worked either way. 'Have you ever had it before? You have? It's not going to kill you, then. If you've had the same thing before, you'll be alright in the morning.' My mother couldn't have more profoundly disagreed with that. 'You're such an optimist, dear,' she often said with a sigh. 'You're a good deal of a pessimist, sweetheart.' 'I certainly am.' And yet, I was well aware as I stood between them, he the optimist was the one who was prepared for the worst, and she the pessimist was the daredevil.

I am by nature an optimist and by intellectual conviction a pessimist.

The optimist says the glass is half full; The security guy says, no glass allowed on the patio!