The Cynic and the Condemned

Well, I know for a fact that I’m a cynic. But I wanted to have a definition for it, so I took a peek at the Internet. The sweet Wikipedia had some definition, totally irrelevant of the popular culture, based on some old Greek Philosophy practicing Areté.

Finally I found some interesting matching definitions on wiki.answers.com :

What is the difference between a cynic and an idealist?

A cynic is someone who fails to thrive, who picks apart good ideas and has a tendency to make life boring and miserable for himself and others. They do not see the purpose of success. They do not get excited. They do not understand where the passion of others comes from. Idealists are dreamers of success and have a potential to succeed. They have grand dreams of things they are interested in and work hard to see them come to light. If they fail, they can quite easily become cynics themselves. Many might argue that a cynic is simply an idealist who has experienced failure. In other words, you must first be an idealist before you have the capacity to be cynical.

And also, a few interesting quotes on the subject, which I really enjoyed :

“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. The cynic puts all human actions into two classes – openly bad and secretly bad.” Henry Ward Beecher

“A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin.”
H. L. Mencken

“A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future.” Sidney J. Harris

And for the end an example of a cynical statement:

“In the depths of my heart I can’t help being convinced that my dear fellow-men, with a few exceptions, are worthless.” Sigmund Freud

10 comments On The Cynic and the Condemned

  • Well I think you mistakenly assume yourself a cynic ! one good way to simply prove you wrong is taking advantage of your own sentences. you said:
    “a few interesting quotes on the subject, which I really enjoyed ”
    and according to the definitions provided
    “The cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man, and never fails to see a bad one.” and “They do not get excited.”
    as i can see your words and actions aren’t compatible .. you know ? something like a conflict :D

  • Then, Indeed, I am a cynic
    “The cynic puts all human actions into two classes – openly bad and secretly bad.”
    Unfortunately,That’s who I am!

  • یک غریبه آشنا

    do you agree with this part~>
    If they fail, they can quite easily become cynics themselves. Many might argue that a cynic is simply an idealist who has experienced failure
    if yes when did u experience failure?I don’t think so
    BTW ur quotes were really true about you;)
    this time it was so different I enjoyed it alot :)

  • “he is one who is prematurely disappointed in the future”
    you don’t seem like that!you so are looking into the future. what really motivates you?
    btw, you seem exited , energetic with big goals. You are not cynic or I am over cynic?!

  • i think you “want” to be a cynic
    but you are not exactly
    you have some properties like cynic people, you have some properties like idealist people,
    but your are not neither cynic nor idealist
    you always want to be something taht you are not!

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