Great hope has no real footing unless one is willing to face into the doom that may also be on the way.
p.207

...until the fear of catastrophe amends, or catastrophe itself destroys...

Keep a light, hopeful heart. But ­expect the worst.

there's no harm in hoping for the best as long as you're prepared for the worst.

One thing that makes it possible to be an optimist is if you have a contingency plan for when all hell breaks loose.

You must remain optimistic, for a negative outlook is more of a handicap than any physical injury.

Cheer up. You never know — maybe something awful will happen tomorrow.

The road of denial leads to the precipice of destruction

Each of us has the right and the responsibility to assess the roads which lie ahead, and those over which we have traveled, and if the future road looms ominous or unpromising, and the roads back uninviting, then we need to gather our resolve and, carrying only the necessary baggage, step off that road into another direction. If the new choice is also unpalatable, without embarrassment, we must be ready to change that as well.

It is one thing to be told of possible hardships ahead, it is entirely another to have to confront them in reality.

Anticipation makes things worse.

And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul.
On you will go
though your enemies prowl.
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl.
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.

Things are going to get harder.
The future will test your strength. So far, you’ve lived in a time of prosperity.
You haven’t experienced massive devastation, but you probably will.

Unless, of course, there's no such thing as chance;...in which case, we should either-optimistically-get up and cheer, because if everything is planned in advance, then we all have a meaning and are spared the terror of knowing ourselves to be random, without a why; or else, of course, we might-as pessimists-give up right here and now, understanding the futility of thought decision action, since nothing we think makes any difference anyway, things will be as they will. Where, then, is optimism? In fate or in chaos?