Overhearing her, Dr. Scott, the center's director, marshaled his characteristic optimism.

To be sure, Sen's apparent naïveté seems of a piece with his characteristic optimism about the human condition.

"I'm sure you'll think of a way to get rid of it," Ida said with her characteristic optimism.

Obama's re-election is a "new energy and a revival of the characteristic American optimism.

Then she added, with characteristic optimism: "Sometimes it's an inspiration to make change, because we know things haven't changed enough.

"It didn't make such a big hole in the stern," Cooke remarked with a return of his characteristic optimism.

Mr. Dean won instant admiration for his characteristic optimism that success would be achieved.

She stood up and shrugged with characteristic optimism.

In occasional public appearances, the mayor has voiced characteristic optimism.

His characteristic optimism had left him, largely because he had not dreamed last night.