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Cynicism Quotes

Sharp lines on doubt and disillusion.

One short quote calls cynicism "intellectual treason," a betrayal of honest thinking. Another warns that cynicism and disillusion can destroy people as thoroughly as bombs, treating it as a real and gradual danger.

Anything that has cynicism to it and that's jaded is smutty.

Quotes by Sandra Bernhard

Cynicism is the intellectual cripple's substitute for intelligence.

Quotes by Russell Lynes

Cynicism is intellectual treason.

Quotes by Norman Cousins

Hypocrisy is the outside of cynicism.

Quotes by Mason Cooley

About Quotes

Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth.

Quotes by Lillian Hellman

We can destroy ourselves by cynicism and disillusion, just as effectively as by bombs.

Quotes by Kenneth Clark

Churches can become places of cynicism, resistance, and pessimism.

Quotes by John Ortberg

Reject cynicism. Reject certitude. And don't be a jerk. Be a good guy.

Quotes by Jake Sullivan

Cynicism is humor in ill health.

Quotes by H. G. Wells

Acting Quotes

Cynicism is intellectual dandyism.

Quotes by George Meredith

It is only the cynicism that is born of success that is penetrating and valid.

Quotes by George Jean Nathan

Cynicism is something which has become symbolic of imperial policy.

Quotes by Fidel Castro

Feinstein doesn't interact with the people at all, and I think it breeds cynicism.

Quotes by Elizabeth Emken

I don't think I have one iota of cynicism about acting.

Quotes by Donald Sutherland

Also Quotes

History provides an antidote to cynicism about the past.

Quotes by David Souter

Cynicism is the easiest of all reactions, right? But it's also so disappointing and self-defeating.

Quotes by Chris Hadfield

Distrust of government isn't baseless cynicism. It's realism.

Quotes by Ben Shapiro

I have no cynicism at all.

Quotes by Antony Sher

I think cynicism lasts. Sentimentality ages, dates quickly.

Quotes by Alexander Payne

Anything Quotes

Californians don't have that marvelous British cynicism, but then the British can be so patronizing at times.

Quotes by Alex Kingston

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the theme of this Cynicism quotes page?
These quotes examine cynicism as a corrosive force, from betraying honest thought to eroding institutions and relationships over time. Several use strong, memorable language to make the point.
Why do people search for cynicism quotes?
Readers often search for these while writing about disillusionment, trust, or the difference between healthy skepticism and outright cynicism. The sharp, quotable phrasing here also draws people looking for a striking line.
Is cynicism described as dangerous in these quotes?
Yes, one quote warns that cynicism and disillusion can destroy people as effectively as bombs, treating it as a serious, gradual threat. It's one of the stronger warnings in the collection.
Do any quotes connect cynicism to religious institutions?
Yes, one quote observes that churches themselves can become places of cynicism, resistance, and pessimism over time. It applies the idea to institutions that might otherwise be expected to resist it.
Is there a quote linking cynicism and hypocrisy?
Yes, one quote calls hypocrisy simply "the outside of cynicism," suggesting the two are closely related expressions of the same underlying attitude. It offers a compact way of tying the two ideas together.

A separate quote observes that churches themselves can become places of cynicism, resistance, and pessimism over time. Yet another flips the idea, calling hypocrisy simply cynicism turned outward toward others.