A good intention, with a bad approach, often leads to a poor result.

The fundamental guideline for not deploying optimism is to ask what the cost of failure is in the particular situation. If the cost of failure is high, optimism is the wrong strategy.

Getting a lot of attention for being successful is a bad position to be in.

There seems to be an attitude problem, as if we cannot shake ourselves out of a mindset of limited achievement.

Being right does not always bring satisfaction,

Courage doesn't always roar.

Temerity is not always successful.

The passion hypothesis is not just wrong, it’s also dangerous. Telling someone to “follow their passion” is not just an act of innocent optimism, but potentially the foundation for a career riddled with confusion and angst.

An overly pragmatic attitude is not productive in the long run.

Ambition displeases when it has been sated... Having reached the peak, it aspires to descend.

While ambition does not preclude aspiration, Callard argues that ambition “consumes much of an agent’s efforts and does not expand his value horizons.”⁠8

With ambition, you tend to get one step below what you aim for. So unless you try to be the best, you won't even be good.

Hesitating to act because the whole vision might not be achieved, or because others do not yet share it, is an attitude that only hinders progress.

While ambition does not preclude aspiration, Callard argues that ambition "consumes much of an agent's efforts and does not expand his value horizons."⁠8