Humor In The Spirit of Mark Twain

Virginia City, Nevada

Optimist v. Pessimist

An optimist sees the best in the world, while a pessimist (a non-optimist) sees only the worst. An optimist finds the positive in the negative, and a pessimist can only find the negative in the positive.

Let me illustrate what I mean . . .

An avid duck hunter was in the market for a new bird dog. His search ended when he found a dog that could actually walk on water to retrieve a duck. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him.

He decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, a pessimist by nature, and invited him to hunt with him and his new dog.

As they waited by the shore, a flock of ducks flew by. they fired, and a duck fell. The dog responded and jumped into the water. The dog, however, did not sink but instead walked across the water to retrieve the bird, never getting more than his paws wet.

The friend saw everything but did not say a single word.

On the drive home the hunter asked his friend, "Did you notice anything unusual about my new dog?"

"I sure did," responded his friend. "He can't swim."

This fun commentary on optimist-pessimist was forwarded to us from Denis Waterbury and is now posted on the web. If you wrote it and want to claim credit, email our editor.

News || Guest Writers || Mark Twain || Dan DeQuille || Humor || Travel

Send your own humorous writings to the current day editor, Tom Muzzio, by email.

A NATIONAL HISTORIC TREASURE Publishing Since 1858

© 1999 All Rights Reserved