Pessimism is only the name that men of weak nerves give to

Bernard DeVoto, with the bluntness of a prophet, declared: “Pessimism is only the name that men of weak nerves give to wisdom.” In these words he unmasks a truth: that what many scorn as pessimism is often nothing more than the courage to see reality clearly. The timid call it despair because they shrink from the sight of hardship; yet in truth it is wisdom, steady and unflinching, that dares to look upon the world without illusion.

The meaning pierces the heart. To foresee difficulty, to recognize danger, to doubt the permanence of fleeting triumphs—this is not weakness, but the vigilance of the wise. The weak-nerved prefer comfort, and so they brand the prudent as pessimists, hoping to silence the warnings that disturb their dreams. Yet those who heed such “pessimism” often survive, while those who mock it fall prey to their own blindness.

History gives us a striking example in Winston Churchill before World War II. While many leaders of Europe clung to optimism, believing that Hitler could be appeased, Churchill spoke with what seemed to be relentless pessimism. He warned of danger, demanded vigilance, and predicted catastrophe if tyranny were left unchecked. To the faint-hearted, he appeared a prophet of doom. Yet time revealed that his “pessimism” was in fact wisdom, and by heeding it, Britain stood firm when the storm broke.

This saying also reminds us of the strength required to bear unwelcome truth. To call darkness by its name, to acknowledge that fortune may turn, demands not weakness but courage. It is easier to flatter, to promise, to soothe; it is harder to be the one who says, “Prepare, for the night is near.” DeVoto reminds us that true wisdom will often be despised, precisely because it does not flatter the ears of the fearful.

Therefore, let the seeker embrace this paradox: that what some call pessimism may be the highest form of care. Better to be called a pessimist and save a life, than to be called an optimist and lead men into ruin. For wisdom does not tremble before the charge of fearfulness. It endures, unshaken, knowing that truth, however bitter, is the surest foundation for survival and for greatness.