Idealism

A commitment to worthy principles and to the possibility of making life better.

Reach for it when naming hope-led principles that continue to shape practical choices

Mara's idealism led her to pair an ambitious housing goal with patient local work.

• everyday

  optimism

  confidence in a good outcome matters more than a moral program

  not when Optimism may concern likelihood alone, while idealism carries principles.

• warm

  hopefulness

  the feeling of possibility is gentle and personal

  not when Hopefulness lacks the commitment to an envisioned standard.

• professional

  aspiration

  you are naming a desired achievement or future state

  not when Aspiration can be self-directed and need not express social principles.

• professional

  vision

  a clear picture of a better future guides a group

  not when Vision stresses the destination, not devotion to ideals.

• formal

  utopianism

  the proposed perfection is sweeping and difficult to realize

  not when Utopianism can sound dismissive when the principles are workable.

• literary

  romanticism

  emotion and an idealized view outweigh practical detail

  not when Romanticism suggests sentiment or unreality that idealism does not require.

• cynicism
• defeatism
• pragmatism

• youthful idealism

  Her youthful idealism matured into a durable public-service career.

• political idealism

  Political idealism gave the campaign its moral direction.

• tempered idealism

  Tempered idealism helped the coalition pursue change without ignoring constraints.