#cynicism

You're such a cynic," Molly said. "I think cynics are playful and cute. ↗

— Jim Butcher

#harry-dresden #humor #molly-carpenter #change

The public is always relieved to find that once the chief officers of state are elected they do not sincerely want change. ↗

— Gore Vidal

#politics #realism #change

These leaders are like the drug lords who ruled America’s ghettos in the crack age, men (and some women) interested in just two things: staying in power, and hoovering up enough of what’s left of the cash on their blocks to drive around in an Escalade or a 633i for however long they have left. ↗

— Matt Taibbi

#money #power #age

Rich men have dreams. Poor men die to make them come true. ↗

— Glen Cook

#dreams #poor #poor-people #rich-people #dreams

Too much faith is the worst ally. When you believe in something literally, through your faith you'll turn it into something absurd. One who is a genuine adherent, if you like, of some political outlook, never takes its sophistries seriously, but only its practical aims, which are concealed beneath these sophistries. Political rhetoric and sophistries do not exist, after all, in order that they be believed; rather, they have to serve as a common and agreed upon alibi. Foolish people who take them in earnest sooner or later discover inconsistencies in them, begin to protest, and finish finally and infamously as heretics and apostates. No, too much faith never brings anything good... ↗

— Milan Kundera

#dogma #faith #history #machiavellian #moderation

It all depends on what people you're talking about helping. That's the wonderful think about just about every religion on the planet - they're all so incredibly selfish. ↗

— Derek Landy

#cynicism #helping-others #perspective #religion #selfishness

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

#humor #life #humor

He found that it was easy to make a heroic gesture, but hard to abide by its results. ↗

— W. Somerset Maugham

#hard #heroism #life #life

This is some sort of joke, isn't it?" asks Hunt, staring at the flawless blue sky and distant fields. I cough as lightly and briefly as possible into a handkerchief I have made from a towel borrowed from the inn. "Probably," I say. "But then, what isn't? ↗

— Dan Simmons

#cynicism #cynicism-reality #joke-life #life

Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes” begins things. Saying “yes” is how things grow. Saying “yes” leads to knowledge. “Yes” is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes'. ↗

— Stephen Colbert

#optimism #wisdom #youth #strength