Definition: optimism

Source: WordNet (r) 1.7

optimism
     n 1: the optimistic feeling that all is going to turn out well
          [ant: pessimism]
     2: a general disposition to expect the best in all things [ant:
         pessimism]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Optimism \Op"ti*mism\, n. [L. optimus the best; akin to optio
   choice: cf. F. optimisme. See Option.]
   1. (Metaph.) The opinion or doctrine that everything in
      nature, being the work of God, is ordered for the best, or
      that the ordering of things in the universe is such as to
      produce the highest good.

   2. A disposition to take the most hopeful view; -- opposed to
      pessimism.

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10)

optimism

   What a programmer is full of after fixing the last bug and
   just before actually discovering the *next* last bug.  Fred
   Brooks's book "The Mythical Man-Month" contains the
   following paragraph that describes this extremely well.

   All programmers are optimists.  Perhaps this modern sorcery
   especially attracts those who believe in happy endings and
   fairy god-mothers.  Perhaps the hundreds of nitty frustrations
   drive away all but those who habitually focus on the end goal.
   Perhaps it is merely that computers are young, programmers are
   younger, and the young are always optimists.  But however the
   selection process works, the result is indisputable: "This
   time it will surely run," or "I just found the last bug.".

   See also Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology.

   [Jargon File]

Source: Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001)

optimism n. What a programmer is full of after fixing the last bug and
   before discovering the _next_ last bug. Fred Brooks's book "The Mythical
   Man-Month" (See "Brooks's Law") contains the following paragraph that
   describes this extremely well:

  All programmers are optimists.  Perhaps this modern sorcery
  especially attracts those who believe in happy endings and fairy
  godmothers.  Perhaps the hundreds of nitty frustrations drive away
  all but those who habitually focus on the end goal.  Perhaps it is
  merely that computers are young, programmers are younger, and the
  young are always optimists.  But however the selection process
  works, the result is indisputable: "This time it will surely run,"
  or "I just found the last bug.".
  
   See also Lubarsky's Law of Cybernetic Entomology.

OPTIMISM, n.  The doctrine, or belief, that everything is beautiful,
including what is ugly, everything good, especially the bad, and
everything right that is wrong.  It is held with greatest tenacity by
those most accustomed to the mischance of falling into adversity, and
is most acceptably expounded with the grin that apes a smile.  Being a
blind faith, it is inaccessible to the light of disproof -- an
intellectual disorder, yielding to no treatment but death.  It is
hereditary, but fortunately not contagious.