Counterintuitively, this is actually what makes me optimistic about the future. I think every generation before us (or near enough) thought they are at the end

Counterintuitively, this is actually what makes me optimistic about the future. I think every generation before us (or near enough) thought they are at the end of times, humanity never faced such crises as now, and everyone else had it easy. It doesn’t mean we are guaranteed to solve our problems, but at least it means we have a track record of working out utterly hopeless situations. Or if you like, just because a problem seems hopeless and beyond the reach of solution, it doesn’t mean it really is.