20th November 2025
We often find some of the greatest bits of wisdom in paradox.
The Stockdale Paradox is a concept that was popularized by Jim Collins in his book ‘Good to Great.’ It was named after James Stockdale, former US Vice presidential candidate, naval officer, and Vietnam prisoner of war.
The paradox describes the value and difficulty of striking a balance between realism and optimism.
Stockdale was a POW in Vietnam for seven-and-a-half years.
Before meeting with the legendary soldier and statesman, Collins read Stockdale’s memoir and found its grim details hard to bear, despite his knowledge that Stockdale’s later life was happy.
Collins wondered, “If it feels depressing for me to read it, how on earth did he survive when he was actually there and did not know the end of the story?”
When he posed that question to the admiral, Stockdale answered: “I never lost faith in the end of the story. I never doubted not only that I would get out, but also that I would prevail in the end and turn the experience into the defining event of my life, which, in retrospect, I would not trade.”
Collins asked him about the personal characteristics of prisoners who did not make it out of the camps. “The optimists,” he replied. “Oh, they were the ones who said, ‘We’re going to be out by Christmas.’ And Christmas would come, and Christmas would go. Then they’d say, ‘We’re going to be out by Easter.’ And Easter would come, and Easter would go. And then Thanksgiving, and then it would be Christmas again. And they died of a broken heart.
This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.”
Once it becomes clear that rescue will not happen soon, those who survive move into the phases of adaptation and consolidation.
This formulation became known as the Stockdale Paradox.
Whether it’s weathering through a torturous imprisonment in a POW camp or going through your own trials and tribulations, the Stockdale Paradox has merit as a way of thinking and acting for any trying times in a person’s life.
Have the strength to face the adversity, but
Hold on to the faith that it will end well & stay blessed forever.