Cynicism is an
attitude or state of mind characterized by a general distrust of others' motives. A cynic may have a general lack of
faith or
hope in the
human species or people motivated by ambition, desire, greed, gratification, materialism, goals, and opinions that a cynic perceives as vain, unobtainable, or ultimately meaningless and therefore deserving of ridicule or admonishment. A common misapplication of this attitude involves its attribution to individuals who emote well-thought-out expressions of
skepticism. Such miscategorization may occur as the result of either inexperience and/or a belief system in which the innate goodness of man is considered an important tenet or even an irrefutable fact. Thus, contemporary usage incorporates both a form of jaded prudence and (when misapplied) realistic
criticism or skepticism. The term originally derives from the
ancient Greek philosophers, the
Cynics, who rejected all conventions, whether of religion, manners, housing, dress, or decency, instead advocating the pursuit of
virtue in accordance with a simple and idealistic way of life.