Quotes About Cynicism

We have a tendency to think everyone's idiotic and everyone's only doing something idiotic, and the world is controlled by a not-so-secret group of morons. There's great truth in that, I suppose, but then it's also not true.

Grownups have a tendency to talk themselves out of things, saying it will never work, but kids are fabulously optimistic.

On a certain level, I don't think there is an answer to what the American way is, because it is constantly being re-defined. It's also been exploited and capitalized upon and politicized by one side or the other to the point that a certain degree of cynicism has attached itself to that term.

I do see the world in pretty dark terms. I find it colder and scarier the older I get.

I remember when humor was gentle pokes. I used to call it 'arm around the shoulder' humor. Now they go for the jugular and they take no prisoners. It's mean, mean stuff.

the neoliberal system therefore has an important and necessary by product ad politicized citizenry marked by apathy and cynicism. If electoral democracy affects little of social life it is irrational to devote much attention to it.

One reasonable reaction to evolutionary psychology is a self-consciousness so acute, and a cynicism so deep, that ironic detachment from the whole human enterprise may provide the only relief.

Life is shit, thought Pelletier in astonishment, all of it.

It's absurd to see an enchanted princess in every girl who walks by. What do you think you are, a troubadour?

When one has been disappointed for so long, hope becomes the enemy. One cannot be dashed to the earth unless one is lifted first, and I learned to avoid hope.

Writing for children can be completely honest in non-cynical ways. In adult books you're required to be cynical. It embarrasses us to say positive things. You can have affection and hope in children's books, but that is out of fashion in adult fiction.

Now, there's this about cynicism, Sergeant. It's the universe's most supine moral position. Real comfortable. If nothing can be done, then you're not some kind of shit for not doing it, and you can lie there and stink to yourself in perfect peace.

It's so obviously bogus, no one will look for a second layer of, er, bogusity.

This is what happened in love. One of you cried a lot and then both of you grow sarcastic.

He knew too much to be an optimist, and not enough to relieve his pessimism.

Hamilton venerated the law, while Burr often seemed mildly bored and cynical about it. "The law is whatever is successfully argued and plausibly maintained," he stated.

Why does the Bible keep nagging us to give thanks? It's because we quickly forget all that God has done for us; we take him for granted. According to Romans 1:21, when we fail to honor God and give him thanks, our hearts become darkened. Indeed, if left unchecked, ingratitude leads to negativity, bitterness, cynicism, and despair.

optimism is a disease

For the rest of his life that was what he said to anyone who asked—and there were people who asked, because the world is a cynical and suspicious place and, being full of liars, thinks of everything as a lie. Which is what Vidyasagar's story was.

Why even try to understand the human condition if humanity revealed itself as grotesque, dark, not worth it.

yes, bitterness; cynicism. it was a wonderful thing I did. deeper truth, bringing you the devil. yes, that sounds like me

Sólo hace dos meses que la conozco ––replicó el conde. ––Y el señor sólo hace cinco minutos que me conoce. No dic e usted más que tonterías. Las mujeres son despiadadas con las personas que no son de su agrado.

I believe in tragedy," Shelby responds coldly. "Not miracles.

Eddie's edge of cynicism caused a smile to play at his lips. "You'd have to pay when you came before him." "I'm before him now," the liveryman said solemnly. "I've come to understand I'm before him each and every minute.