“Sarkozy and Markel discuss growth agenda at bilateral summit in Berlin,” blares a prominent title in the online edition of the Financial Times this morning. Jacques Attali comes to mind at once. Of course, it is his learned commission that advises Sarkozy on economic growth (“Jacques Attali’s Warning Words: A Letter to The Economist,” December 7, 2011). Forever an optimist, he is Europe’s greatest hope. And anyone who offers hope to the sub-continent in these dire times is an optimist par excellence. If only there were more influential people like Attali in Europe today! More optimists, that is. Perhaps they could persuade all and sundry that economic growth was indeed a plausible way forward. And Europe would experience another Renaissance in a few short years. Go Attali, go! Optimism is the name of the game.