the.com/cynicism
armor against disappointment that also keeps out everything worth wanting.
means An attitude of distrust toward people's motives, assuming self-interest behind every good deed and doubting that sincerity or virtue is real.
from From the ancient Greek Kynikoi, the Cynics — philosophers who scorned wealth, status, and convention. The name likely comes from kyon, 'dog,' a jab at their shameless, live-in-the-street manner (think Diogenes, who reportedly slept in a jar and snubbed Alexander the Great). The Greek word passed through Latin cynicus into English, where over the centuries the meaning drifted from 'rigorous, comfort-rejecting sage' to today's 'person who assumes the worst of everyone.'
- greek roots
- named after the dog, Cynics lived shamelessly like strays
- diogenes
- masturbated publicly to prove philosophy beats decorum
- heart cost
- chronic cynics show higher rates of dementia and disease
- cheap genius
- sounds smart, costs nothing, predicts nothing
- the flip
- once meant rejecting wealth, now means expecting the worst
diogenes the cynic — ancient greek philosopher who lived in a barrel in athens, 412-323 bce, rejecting all social conventions
george carlin — stand-up comedian whose observational comedy expressed deep cynicism about religion, government, and human nature, 1937-2008