One who doesn't believe in innate human virtue. Cynicism, contrary to popular belief, does not entail being an offensive and ignorant idiot. Only the offensive part, because most people don't like how cynics criticise them and would rather live happily ever after in the magical world of pixies and gumdrops and rainbows and unicorns. Sadly, that view on cynicism has caused a lot of people to regard the philosophy in a negative way.
Nobody likes a cynic. That's okay, because we don't like everyone else.
One famous cynic was Diogenes. He would go around Athens in broad daylight with a lantern. When people asked him what he was doing, he would say "I am just looking for an honest man".
One famous cynic was Diogenes. He would go around Athens in broad daylight with a lantern. When people asked him what he was doing, he would say "I am just looking for an honest man".
by Lord of the Pies April 15, 2006
A person who boldly tells it like it is. A person who sees the world without a blindfold covering the eyes.
by AYB September 8, 2003
An idealist whose rose-colored glasses have been removed, snapped in two and stomped into the ground, immediately improving his vision.
Authority figures and the Government only tell you what to do because they want to help
Cynic's translation: They tell you what to do and how to do it because they, like everyones eles, want power and control.
Cynic's translation: They tell you what to do and how to do it because they, like everyones eles, want power and control.
by adammmm June 6, 2007
by Dagon4 August 17, 2013
(n) (1) A person who doubts the sincerity of motives.
(2) A word commonly misdefined by pessimists who think they are cynics.
(2) A word commonly misdefined by pessimists who think they are cynics.
by WJ Andrews March 26, 2004
Cynicism; (noun); Derived from the Greek word for dog, it first described a current of Ancient Greek philosophy. The cynic ringleader Diogenes of Sinope was described as "Socrates gone mad". The cynics pursued The Good without minding any other values. This meant they could jerk of at dinner tables, shit in public and live in barrells. Diogenes was said to live '"like a dog", hence the name, cynicism.
Nowadays, cynicism means an attitude in life that is conscious about morally bad or evil acts, but makes a joke out of them or commits them anyway. The cynic is blasé, he thinks everything is stupid or redundant and tends to sigh a lot.
Cynicism is said to be linked to hypocrisy. The hypocrite wants to convince other people of the fact that he is doing the right thing, whereas he knows he is not. The cynic doesn't want to convince anybody. He is honest to the extreme. His friends tend to describe him as dark, evil, terribly offensive or hilariously funny.
Nowadays, cynicism means an attitude in life that is conscious about morally bad or evil acts, but makes a joke out of them or commits them anyway. The cynic is blasé, he thinks everything is stupid or redundant and tends to sigh a lot.
Cynicism is said to be linked to hypocrisy. The hypocrite wants to convince other people of the fact that he is doing the right thing, whereas he knows he is not. The cynic doesn't want to convince anybody. He is honest to the extreme. His friends tend to describe him as dark, evil, terribly offensive or hilariously funny.
Cynicism.
"Yesterday my aunt died. Well, at least we got free coffee."
"Global poverty is a real problem. Then again, so are pigeons."
"Women should have the right to vote for any man they want to surpress them."
"Yesterday my girlfriend told me she was pregnant. So I pushed her of the stairs. She fell down and bled all over the floor. Now I have to get a new rug. Fuck my life."
"Yesterday my aunt died. Well, at least we got free coffee."
"Global poverty is a real problem. Then again, so are pigeons."
"Women should have the right to vote for any man they want to surpress them."
"Yesterday my girlfriend told me she was pregnant. So I pushed her of the stairs. She fell down and bled all over the floor. Now I have to get a new rug. Fuck my life."
by De laatste cynicus May 14, 2010
One who knows the truth about human nature and motives. May be labeled as distrustful or paranoid by naive people.
Someone who is butthurt doesn't qualify as cynical. Neither does someone who is jaded.
Someone who is butthurt doesn't qualify as cynical. Neither does someone who is jaded.
I never trust strangers I meet over the Internet with personal data, no matter how unimportant said data is, call me cynical.
by Neural Blade July 4, 2010