“Cynicism is intellectual treason.”

— Norman Cousins

Human Options (1981)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Dec. 28, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Cynicism is intellectual treason." by Norman Cousins?

Norman Cousins 32

American journalist 1915–1990

Related quotes

“Intellectuals are cynical and cynics have never built a cathedral.”

Henry Kissinger (1923–2023) United States Secretary of State

As quoted in Sketchbook 1966-1971 (1971) by Max Frisch, p. 230
1970s

“Cynicism is intellectual dandyism.”

George Meredith (1828–1909) British novelist and poet of the Victorian era

Source: The Egoist http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext99/egost11.txt (1879), Ch. 7.

“Cynicism is only intellectual sloth.”

Henry Rollins (1961) American singer-songwriter

Riff on life's journey blends humor, hope http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/02/review-henry-rollins.html, Columbus Dispatch

“Cynicism is easy. An optimist is a braver cynic.”

Colum McCann book TransAtlantic

Source: TransAtlantic

“Perhaps no philosopher is more correct than the cynic. The happiness of the animal, that thorough cynic, is the living proof of cynicism.”

Friedrich Nietzsche Untimely Meditations

§ 2.1, cited in Peter Sloterdijk, Critique of Cynical Reason (1987), p. ix
Untimely Meditations (1876)

“Cynicism is often seen as a rebellious attitude in western popular culture, but in reality, our cynicism advances the desires of the powerful: cynicism is obedience.”

Alex Steffen (1968) American writer and futurist

Go bright green | Review | Guardian Unlimited Books. http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2035002,00.html

“You're such a cynic," Molly said.

"I think cynics are playful and cute.”

Jim Butcher book Changes

Source: The Dresden Files, Changes (2010), Chapter 6
Context: Molly Carpenter: Wrote the Laws of Magic, founded the White Council, was custodian of one of the Swords and established a stronghold for the Council, too. He must have been something else.
Harry Dresden: He must have been a real bastard. Guys who get their name splashed all over history and folklore don't tend to be Boy Scout troop leaders.
Molly Carpenter: You're such a cynic.
Harry Dresden: I think cynics are playful and cute.