I caught Dr. Laura in an interview the other day, and was reminded why I treasure her. She was asked what people need today in order to cope — with their own personal lives, or with the state of society. She immediately had an answer: “Two things: optimism, and courage.”
It’s great advice. If you’re an optimist, you’ll see that stupidity has no place in life, because stupidity has no power. In your personal life, you drive it all away. Simply refuse to associate with stupid or toxic people or activities. In society, tune them out. Create your own rational, romantic, intelligent universe by feeding your mind only good stuff. With courage, you will shed all concern with what other people think.
Even today, most people are not stupid; they only think they’re supposed to pretend they’re stupid, because they fear the wrath of those who actually are. By laughing at the idiots and the idiocy all around us, resisting them and refusing to pretend any of the madness around you is actually truth, you terrify the bad people who want life to be miserable for all of us.
Even if (in the worst case) you fail or perish, optimism and courage will be your ultimate tribute to yourself and to all that made life valuable.
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