By subscribing to Inspiring Quotes you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
These words conclude the foreword to 1961’s “Lanterns and Lances,” the last essay collection author James Thurber published during his prolific career. Although the writer and cartoonist’s work inspired the annual Thurber Prize for American Humor, here he expresses a sincere desire for his readers: Don’t let past disappointments color how you see the world. When entering any situation, assuming the worst suspends our ability to access authentic emotions, and, as a result, to make clear-eyed, open-hearted decisions. By contrast, Thurber asserted that his creative life was guided by “a basic and indestructible thread of hope.”
Our Top 23 Quotes of 2023
The Classics: Quotes From History’s Greatest Poems
Quotes About How To Be Productive in a Healthy Way
15 Quotes That Get to the Heart of Buddhism
8 Quotes From the Trailblazing Women of the Civil Rights Movement
Quotes To Help You Mourn and Move Forward From a Relationship
How To Find Closure, in Quotes
12 Quotes To Help You Brush Off Little Mistakes
12 Quotes Every People-Pleaser Should Read
Add a Dash of Laughter to Your Day With These Cooking Quotes
15 Quotes To Remind You To Stop and Smell the Flowers