There’s a reason why cynicism has gotten such a bad rap over the years. After all, it’s hard to be motivated and positive when you’re always telling yourself that things will never get better. But ironically, being cynical can also make you more pragmatic and realistic – which can be an asset in business. If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration (and some ammunition against naysayers), check out these cynicism quotes from WiseGeek.com ! They’ll make you appreciate the power of negative thinking.

The best cynicism quotes

1. Cynicism is the largest obstacle to social change. Cynicism is dangerous because people throw up their hands and say, ‘Well it’s not possible. Why should I even try? — Robert Reich

2. Some people grow older and more cynical. Some people become just the opposite. Life hurts without hope, and cynicism, once a luxury, becomes unaffordable. — William Norwich, My Mrs. Brown

3. What this generation was bred to at television’s knees was not wisdom, but cynicism. — Pauline Kael

4. It seems to me that election season is just a Petri dish for anger and cynicism. — Max Lucado

5. Cynicism is reality with an alternate spelling. — Woody Allen

6. The cynicism that you have is not your real soul. — Yoko Ono

7. It seems to me that election season is just a Petri dish for anger and cynicism. — Max Lucado

8. His age was indeterminate. But in cynicism and general world weariness, which is a sort of carbon dating of the personality, he was about seven thousand years old. — Terry Pratchett

9. Cynicism springs from disappointments in love. — Marty Rubin

10. Cynicism is the last refuge of those who don’t want to do the work of creating a better society. — Robert Reich

11. Our triumphant age of plenty is riddled with darker feelings of doubt, cynicism, distrust, boredom and a strange kind of emptiness — Samuel Johnson

12. My level of cynicism about the reasons that took us to war against Iraq remain just as well–developed as they were before I went. — Ted Koppel

13. I suppose I miss the British cynicism and the humor. — Rod Stewart

14. Anyone who does not understand the utter cynicism of politics does not understand politics. — Thomas Sowell

15. I’m an eternal optimist with a small degree of cynicism. — Sarah Mclachlan

16. Cynicism is the largest obstacle to social change. Cynicism is dangerous because people throw up their hands and say, ‘Well it’s not possible. Why should I even try? — Robert Reich

17. I always feel the cynicism is reality with maybe an alternate spelling or something because I feel that I have real perspective on this particular issue of punishment in society. — Woody Allen

18. The arts community still has a long lasting cynicism of the importance, or the artistic value, of comedy. Comedy is just farting about for money. — Rowan Atkinson

19. If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn’t as cynical as real life. — Terry Pratchett

20. Cynicism is reality with an alternate spelling. — Woody Allen

21. Anyone who does not understand the utter cynicism of politics does not understand politics. — Thomas Sowell

22. Cynicism is reality with an alternate spelling. — Woody Allen

23. Cynicism springs from disappointments in love. — Marty Rubin

24. I understand the concept of optimism. But I think with me what you get is a lack of cynicism. — Tom Hanks

25. I can never get used to the fact, though I know it, that women are born cynics. Men have to learn cynicism. Infant girls could teach it to them. — Ursula K. Le Guin

26. The arts community still has a long lasting cynicism of the importance, or the artistic value, of comedy. Comedy is just farting about for money. — Rowan Atkinson

27. I always feel the cynicism is reality with maybe an alternate spelling or something because I feel that I have real perspective on this particular issue of punishment in society. — Woody Allen

28. Cynicism is the largest obstacle to social change. Cynicism is dangerous because people throw up their hands and say, ‘Well it’s not possible. Why should I even try? — Robert Reich

29. The foolishness of youth with the cynicism of age is a dangerous combination. — Murad S. Shah

30. Cynicism–the intellectual cripple’s substitute for intelligence. — Russell Lynes

31. It seems to me that election season is just a Petri dish for anger and cynicism. — Max Lucado

32. What this generation was bred to at television’s knees was not wisdom, but cynicism. — Pauline Kael

33. There is maybe a cynicism because of my past as a writer. — Ryan Tedder

34. My level of cynicism about the reasons that took us to war against Iraq remain just as well–developed as they were before I went. — Ted Koppel

35. She (historian Barbara Tuchman) draws on skepticism, not cynicism, leaving the reader not so much outraged by human ability as amused and saddened by human folly. — Robert K. Massie

36. She (historian Barbara Tuchman) draws on skepticism, not cynicism, leaving the reader not so much outraged by human ability as amused and saddened by human folly. — Robert K. Massie

37. The cynicism that you have is not your real soul. — Yoko Ono

38. Anyone who does not understand the utter cynicism of politics does not understand politics. — Thomas Sowell

39. Cynicism–the intellectual cripple’s substitute for intelligence. — Russell Lynes

40. There is maybe a cynicism because of my past as a writer. — Ryan Tedder

41. Some people grow older and more cynical. Some people become just the opposite. Life hurts without hope, and cynicism, once a luxury, becomes unaffordable. — William Norwich, My Mrs. Brown

42. You know what the critics are. If you tell the truth they only say you’re cynical and it does an author no good to get a reputation for cynicism. — W. Somerset Maugham

43. They were Archer’s second set of children an d paragons of contemporary teenage cynicism. They enjoyed setting fire to the tails of tender thoughts. — Tom Wolfe

44. There is maybe a cynicism because of my past as a writer. — Ryan Tedder

45. There is maybe a cynicism because of my past as a writer. — Ryan Tedder

46. I think that the memory of Armenia’s genocide opened my eyes at an early age to the existence of political cynicism. — Serj Tankian

47. Cynicism is the intellectual cripple’s substitute for intelligence. — Russell Lynes

48. Cynicism–the intellectual cripple’s substitute for intelligence. — Russell Lynes

49. What this generation was bred to at television’s knees was not wisdom, but cynicism. — Pauline Kael

50. My level of cynicism about the reasons that took us to war against Iraq remain just as well–developed as they were before I went. — Ted Koppel

Conclusion

No matter how cynical you may be, it is important to remember that you can still remain positive and live life with joy and love. Cynicism can be a shield, but it can also hold you back from experiencing life to the fullest. It is important to keep a balance between cynicism and optimism. To help you do this, here are some of the best quotes about cynicism to keep you going: “Cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth.” – Lillian Hellman “Cynicism is humor in ill health.” – H.G. Wells “Cynicism is intellectual cowardice.” – Sydney J. Harris “Cynicism is an unpleasant way of telling the truth.” – Lillian Hellman “Cynicism is a mean, spiteful attitude that has no place in a happy, productive life.” – Steve Maraboli “Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it.” – Steve Furtick We hope these quotes help remind you that cynicism can be a way to protect yourself, but it can also be a barrier to living a full and happy life. Don’t let cynicism take over your life, and always strive to keep a balance between cynicism and optimism.