In the same way that a pessimist might look at a glass half-full of water and see it as half-empty and an optimist would see it as half-full, a realist would be more likely to see the glass as half empty. The idealist, in her search for the good, would see the glass as half-full. In general, idealists tend to be more positive and hopeful, believing in possibilities.
When an idealist sets goals for himself, he shoots for the moon. Nothing is too impossible or out of his reach, which may lead to huge disappointment. A realist, on the other hand, would set goals that are practical and achieveable. The realist would research what steps need to be taken to reach his goals and factor in costs and a reasonable timeline as well.
When it comes to politics, realists tend to believe that the state is concerned with obtaining and maintaining power. Idealists, on the other hand, view human nature as inherently altruistic without the need for absolute power. Idealists seek to develop international community to overcome anarchy. The idealist is for promoting international treaty organizations and cooperation between the states in America and provinces in Canada. Unlike realists, idealists believe that states and provinces should seek to benefit the entire international system.
A poor family living in a shabby house expected the landlord to paint the house and fix their broken fence. As idealists, they wanted to improve the exterior of their home as they had a vision of what it could look like. There was nothing to prevent the family from working together to fix the fence and paint the house themselves, however, so they did. In that sense, the family coupled the vision of their idealist perspective with the realism of action.