I hope Carrie doesn't mind that I'm referring to her old quote. Options

[HakunaMatata]

"So say “yes.” And if you’re lucky, you’ll find people who will say “yes” back.

Now will saying “yes” get you in trouble at times? Will saying “yes” lead you to doing some foolish things? Yes it will. But don’t be afraid to be a fool. 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, Knox College Commencement Address 2006

So while this quote is not specifically about cyncism, it does definitely touch on it. Just in case, dictionary.com definies 'cyncism' as "An attitude of scornful or jaded negativity, especially a general distrust of the integrity or professed motives of others."

And really, I see cyncism so much irl, but under the banner of "realism". And while I see some similarites between the two philosophies, I see them as very, very, very different. Realism, to me, is when you take things at face value without really thinking of the motives behind it. You take it for what it really is, the action itself. Cyncism, on the other hand, automatically assumes that there is a conditionally negative motive behind the actions, particularly a selfish one.

So, how do you feel about cyncism? Are you a cynic?