Cynic Quotes

• If you're regularly willing to give a critique, but not willing to take one, you're not a leader, you're a cynic.

  Ed Stetzer

  Giving, Leader, Critique

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• Idealist: a cynic in the making.

  Irving Layton

  Idealist, Ideals

  Irving Layton (1969). “The whole bloody bird: obs, aphs & pomes”

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• Cynicism is not realistic and tough. It's unrealistic and kind of cowardly because it means you don't have to try. ---in Good Housekeeping

  Peggy Noonan

  Wisdom, Mean, Trying

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• It is cynicism, and not idealism, that is generally the mark of youthful immaturity, or rather it is the cynic who is generally the most foolish romantic.

  Andrew Sarris

  Immaturity, Cynicism, Foolish

  Andrew Sarris (1996). “The American cinema: directors and directions, 1929-1968”, Da Capo Pr

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• What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

  Oscar Wilde

  Inspirational, Funny, Leadership

  'Lady Windermere's Fan' (1892) act 3

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• Inside every cynical person, there is a disappointed idealist.

  George Carlin

  Funny, Disappointment, Humor

  "A Note on George Carlin about Steroids and Sports from a Practical Idealist" by Carol Smaldino, www.huffingtonpost.com. June 19, 2009.

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• A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.

  H. L. Mencken

  Funny, Flower, Humor

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• The cynics are right nine times out of ten.

  H. L. Mencken

  Funny, Witty, Time

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• Don't be a cynic and disconsolate preacher. Don't bewail and moan. Omit the negative propositions. Challenge us with incessant affirmatives.

  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Challenges, Negative, Cynicism

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• The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man, and never fails to see a bad one. He is the human owl, vigilant in darkness and blind to light, mousing for vermin, and never seeing noble game.

  Henry Ward Beecher

  Failure, Men, Light

  Henry Ward Beecher (1845). “Lectures to Young Men, on Various Important Subjects”, p.113

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• Cynicism is cheap - you can buy it at any Monoprix store - it's built into all poor-quality goods.

  Graham Greene

  Quality Goods, Poor Quality, Cynicism

  GRAHAM GREENE (1966). “THE COMEDIANS”

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• The cynic, a parasite of civilization, lives by denying it, for the very reason that he is convinced that it will not fail.

  Jose Ortega y Gasset

  Civilization, Failing, Cynicism

  Jose Ortega Y Gasset (1960). “the Revolt of the Masses”

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• Modern cynics and skeptics... see no harm in paying those to whom they entrust the minds of their children a smaller wage than is paid to those to whom they entrust the care of their plumbing.

  John F. Kennedy

  Sad, Teacher, Appreciation

  Vanderbilt University 90th Anniversary Convocation Address, delivered 18 May 1963, Vanderbilt University Stadium, Nashville Tennessee

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• I never think I feel cynical in general. Cynical is reality with an alternate spelling. I feel there's a gigantic amount of injustice and overt crime every day in the world, from emotional crimes to international crimes, and it often carries rewards.

  Woody Allen

  Reality, Emotional, Thinking

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• I hate cynicism - it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere.

  Conan O'Brien

  Hate, Quality, Cynicism

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• Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.

  Conan O'Brien

  Life, Inspiring, High School Graduation

  "Conan O'Brien's farewell has lasting impact" by Breeanna Hare, www.cnn.com. February 16, 2010.

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• In the end we shall have had enough of cynicism, skepticism and humbug, and we shall want to live more musically.

  Vincent Van Gogh

  Want, Had Enough, Harmony

  Naomi E. Maurer, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin (1998). “The Pursuit of Spiritual Wisdom: The Thought and Art of Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin”, p.35, Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press

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• I'm very used to playing the tomboy or the sarcastic cynic. That's my go-to. Playing the vulnerable of a real girl that's in real womanlike situations, where it's romanticized, I'm a little nervous about it.

  Kristen Bell

  Girl, Sarcastic, Real

  Interview with Caffeinated Clint, moviehole.net. April 08, 2008.

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• All I ask is one thing, and I’m asking this particularly of young people: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism, for the record, it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.

  Conan O'Brien

  Happiness, Hate, People

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• Most cynics are really crushed romantics: they've been hurt, they're sensitive, and their cynicism is a shell that's protecting this tiny, dear part in them that's still alive.

  Jeff Bridges

  Romantic, Hurt, Shells

  Biography/Personal Quotes, www.imdb.com.

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• An idealist is one who, on noticing that roses smell better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.

  H. L. Mencken

  Life, Food, Vegetables

  H.L. Mencken (2012). “Mencken Chrestomathy”, p.617, Vintage

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• People like Bill Maher, who brags about being a cynic, it sickens me. I am the least cynical person I know, and I am very, very skeptical.

  Penn Jillette

  People, Cynical, Bills

  "God Is Not. Great!". Interview with Nick Gillespie, reason.com. March 15, 2012.

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• Essentially, the [New York] Philharmonic is just like any other orchestra-they all have the spirit of kids, and if you scratch away a little of the fatigue and cynicism, out comes a 17-year-old music student again, full of wonder, exuberance and a tremendous love of music.

  Zubin Mehta

  New York, Kids, Years

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• There's something I believe wholeheartedly: Cynicism is the true refuge of the pseudo-intellectual, .. Cynicism is easy. Joy is an extremely advanced spiritual and intellectual tenet.

  Craig Ferguson

  Spiritual, Believe, Joy

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• Nothing ever guarantees you anything-that's my rule. My other rule is never believe anything that anyone tells you, and then you'll never be fooled. It's not as cynical as it sounds; it's just that people always say something for a reason-maybe a nice reason, maybe a devious reason-so on that level, you can't take things at face value.

  David Hyde Pierce

  Nice, Believe, People

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