"An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight... the truly wise person is colorblind"

An optimist perceives endless opportunity, hope, and forward momentum, like always encountering green lights on their journey. Every situation, challenge, or crossroad is another chance for progress or success. For the optimist, the world is shaped by possibility; barriers are fleeting, openings perpetual. In contrast, a pessimist sees limitation wherever they look, as if every intersection is governed by red stoplights. Their focus settles on restriction, on warnings, on reasons not to proceed. Caution, risk, and the fear of failure loom larger than the allure of advancement.

Both perspectives stem from an underlying tendency to interpret experience through pre-set filters. Optimists look for evidence that supports a positive worldview, while pessimists focus on warning signals, believing setbacks are inevitable. Each approach might provide comfort or protection but can obscure a clear-eyed understanding of reality. The optimist risks recklessness; the pessimist may become paralyzed by fear. Their shared limitation is an over-reliance on emotional coloring to shape judgment and action.

The truly wise person rises above this duality; they are described as colorblind. Wisdom, in this context, involves seeing reality as it is, unfiltered by preconceived notions of hope or apprehension. Colorblindness is not apathy, but unbiased perception. Rather than thrusting ahead naively or holding back due to fear, the wise person assesses each situation on its own merits. They recognize when to act, when to wait, when to seek alternatives, free from the lens of habitual optimism or pessimism.

Wisdom demands openness, self-awareness, and a willingness to confront circumstance without distortion. By discarding the colors assigned by temperament, the truly wise learn to navigate life with clarity, balance, and discernment. They respond not to the promise of green or the threat of red, but to the facts, nuances, and needs before them.