# Technical Optimism Can Coexist With Political Pessimism by Martin Rees > “I would describe myself as a technical optimist but a political pessimist.” > **— Martin Rees**, *On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, with Martin Rees, Carnegie Council, 2018* ## Sources and Context - **Direct publication and full context:** [On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, with Martin Rees](https://www.carnegiecouncil.org/media/series/39/20180926-on-the-future-prospects-for-humanity-martin-rees) — The linked publication contains the quoted passage and its surrounding argument. - **Master research record:** [[research/Martin Rees on Machine Succession, Post-Human Intelligence, and the Cosmic Future|Martin Rees on Machine Succession, Post-Human Intelligence, and the Cosmic Future]] — preserves this object inside the open Martin Rees source dossier. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Article:** [[articles/We Cannot Un-Strike the Match|We Cannot Un-Strike the Match]] - **Article:** [[articles/Safety Discourse Is Transition Discourse|Safety Discourse Is Transition Discourse]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Immediate AI Risk Is the Public|The Immediate AI Risk Is the Public]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Existential Risk|Existential Risk]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/Risk Debate|Risk Debate]] - [[wiki/Scientific Literacy|Scientific Literacy]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “I would describe myself as a technical optimist but a political pessimist.” — Martin Rees, On the Future: Prospects for Humanity, with Martin Rees, Carnegie Council, 2018 https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-martin-rees-technical-optimism-coexist-political-pessimism ```