The real discovery is the one which enables me to stop doing philosophy when I want to. The one that gives philosophy peace so that it is no longer tormented by questions which bring itself into question.
It's extremely hard for athletes to accept what's happened to them sometimes. It's hard to be beaten by a small margin and I've spoken with athletes who for years afterward have been tormented by the knowledge that had they done something ever so slightly different they could have been one-ten-thousandth of a second quicker.
With optimism you look upon the sunny side of things. People say 'Studs you're an optimist.' I never said I was an optimist. I have hope because what's the alternative to hope? Despair? If you have despair you might as well put your head in the oven.