Micawber principle

Etymology
From the Dickens character, noted for his inability to work his way out of poverty. Two of his enunciations have become elevated to "principles":
 * "Something will turn up."
 * "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds nought and six, result misery."

Noun

 * 1) The claim that something good will turn up, especially when used to justify optimism.
 * 2) The claim that financial surplus is success and debt is failure.
 * 1) The claim that financial surplus is success and debt is failure.
 * 1) The claim that financial surplus is success and debt is failure.
 * 1) The claim that financial surplus is success and debt is failure.
 * 1) The claim that financial surplus is success and debt is failure.