And though our nation may be travelling through rough waters, they give us confidence that our course is true, and that beyond the pre-dawn darkness, better days lie ahead.

WHITEHOUSE: The End of the Combat Mission in Iraq

True, consumer confidence and corporate earnings in the U.S. forged ahead despite Asia's recession.

CNN: BRAZIL'S BOMB

It is confidence in the men and women who administer the judicial system that is the true backbone of the rule of law.

FORBES: Wisconsin Supreme Court Tussle No Crisis, Just Business As Usual

The less-than-optimal response is continued full confidence in my original belief, and a refusal to accept the possibility that the new reality is true.

FORBES: When Self-Confidence Is A Bad Thing

That is particularly true for a country like the UK where banks and government depend on the confidence of investors to refinance big debts.

BBC: Can the Bank of England hit any target?

If we peer through the clouds of government intervention, massive hedge fund bets, high taxes, lackluster consumer confidence, political uncertainty, and various other market distortions, we should be able to see the true market at work.

FORBES: Market Madness, Rampant Irrationality, & Animal Spirits: What Are Investors To Do?