Daniel Kahneman Quotes about Optimism

One of the major biases in risky decision making is optimism. Optimism is a source of high-risk thinking.

One of the major biases in risky decision making is optimism. Optimism is a source of high-risk thinking.

Thinking, Optimism, Decision

"Daniel Kahneman: The Thought Leader Interview". Interview with Michael Schrage, www.strategy-business.com. 2003.

However, optimism is highly valued, socially and in the market; people and firms reward the providers of dangerously misleading information more than they reward truth tellers. One of the lessons of the financial crisis that led to the Great Recession is that there are periods in which competition, among experts and among organizations, creates powerful forces that favor a collective blindness to risk and uncertainty.

Daniel Kahneman

Powerful, Organization, Optimism

When action is needed, optimism, even of the mildly delusional variety, may be a good thing.

Daniel Kahneman

Optimism, May, Action

Daniel Kahneman (2011). “Thinking, Fast and Slow”, p.291, Macmillan

Optimism is normal, but some fortunate people are more optimistic than the rest of us. If you are genetically endowed with an optimistic bias, you hardly need to be told that you are a lucky person - you already feel fortunate.

Daniel Kahneman

Optimistic, People, Optimism

Daniel Kahneman (2011). “Thinking, Fast and Slow”, p.290, Macmillan