"I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will"

Antonio Gramsci’s statement, “I’m a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will,” reveals a nuanced approach to the challenges of political and social life. Pessimism of the intellect emerges from a clear-eyed assessment of reality. Intelligence, for Gramsci, requires seeing the world without illusions, confronting its entrenched injustices, power structures, and cycles of oppression. To engage thoughtfully and truthfully means to recognize the often grim forces that shape society, to acknowledge that progress is often slow and that setbacks are frequent and sometimes overwhelming. Such intellectual honesty can lead to despair, resignation, or cynicism, as the obstacles to meaningful transformation are always apparent and frequently daunting.

Will, however, offers a counterbalance. By cultivating optimism of the will, one draws on inner conviction and determination that defy the limits of what currently appears possible. Willpower, in Gramsci’s view, is the refusal to be paralyzed by pessimistic knowledge. Instead, it propels individuals and communities to take action, often against seemingly insurmountable odds. Optimism of the will is not naive hope or blind positivity; rather, it is a conscious decision to act despite unfavorable realities. It fuels perseverance in the face of adversity, and enables radical hope as a political force.

Gramsci articulates the tension between recognizing how hard change is and having the commitment to continue struggling for it nonetheless. True activism, for him, lives in the space where critical analysis meets practical engagement. To be effective, one must see things as they are and also actively work to make them as they could be. The synthesis of these perspectives defines the courage and moral commitment needed for social transformation, a sober awareness of reality, coupled with an unwavering resolve to transform it.