--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cynics about government find much to be…" description: "\"Cynics about government find much to be cynical about.\" — Alice Rivlin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/alice-rivlin-42902_cynical_cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be_1326093.png" --- # Cynics about government find much to be cynical about. ![“Cynics about government find much to be cynical about.” quote by Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/alice-rivlin-42902_cynical_cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be_1326093.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/alice-rivlin-42902_cynical_cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be_1326093.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/alice-rivlin-42902_cynical_cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be_1326093.png) > “Cynics about government find much to be cynical about.” [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cynics see many flaws in government, reinforcing their distrust. **In simple terms:** Cynics focus on government flaws. Key Takeaway Question assumptions, seek evidence. Themes skepticism politics trust Mood critical reflective Type analytical thought‑provoking When to use this quote - voting - activism - policy analysis Key Concepts public policy cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports your cynicism? - How might bias affect your view? A Different Perspective Cynicism can overlook positive reforms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) ## Related quotes > [You should always be questioning your government, but do not become cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-visclosky/you-should-always-be-questioning-your-government-but-do-not-become/) Pete Visclosky > [Intellectuals are cynical and cynics have never built a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/intellectuals-are-cynical-and-cynics-have-never-built-a-cathedral/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/cynicism-masquerades-as-wisdom-but-it-is-the-farthest-thing-from-it/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Most cynics are really crushed romantics: they've been hurt, they're sensitive, and their cynicism is a shell that's protecting this tiny, dear part in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bridges/most-cynics-are-really-crushed-romantics-they-ve-been-hurt-they-re/) [Jeff Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bridges/) > [The cynics in life are the people who are always trying to do things for people who don't want things done for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/the-cynics-in-life-are-the-people-who-are-always-trying-to-do-things/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Cynics are - beneath it all - only idealists with awkwardly high standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/cynics-are-beneath-it-all-only-idealists-with-awkwardly-high-standards/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Once upon a time, we were cynics facing the world alone. Our story changed into two warrior cynics facing the world together. Now, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/once-upon-a-time-we-were-cynics-facing-the-world-alone-our-story/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly cynics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/remember-you-cannot-be-both-young-and-wise-young-people-who-pretend/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“The Cynics emphasized that true happiness is not found in external advantages such as material luxury, political power, or good health. True happiness lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-cynics-emphasized-that-true-happiness-is-not-found-in-external/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Cynics criticize and winners analyze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/cynics-criticize-and-winners-analyze/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The cynics are right nine times out of ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-cynics-are-right-nine-times-out-of-ten/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Cynicism was a school in Greece - the Cynics. Diogenes is a famous Cynic. There was a strong belief in nihilism and narcissism. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/cynicism-was-a-school-in-greece-the-cynics-diogenes-is-a-famous-cynic/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [Cynics and critics wake us up. Kindness often covers up the truth and allows us to sleep on in our ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/cynics-and-critics-wake-us-up-kindness-often-covers-up-the-truth-and/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Don't let the doom criers and the cynics persuade you that the best is past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/don-t-let-the-doom-criers-and-the-cynics-persuade-you-that-the-best/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Trying to prove yourself to cynics is an absolute waste of your time. Making time with people who care about you is worth your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-prove-yourself-to-cynics-is-an-absolute-waste-of-your-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Alice Rivlin > [ One would hope that you would have a CBO director who does not let ideology get in the way of making good estimates. \[Congress\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/one-would-hope-that-you-would-have-a-cbo-director-who-does-not-let/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [If simple, painless solutions to public problems existed, they would have been found long ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/if-simple-painless-solutions-to-public-problems-existed-they-would/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [The federal budget deficit is the biggest single impediment to revitalizing the American economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/the-federal-budget-deficit-is-the-biggest-single-impediment-to/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [The increase in inequality in income is a longtime trend, but the pressure on middle- and low-income workers is going up rapidly. Especially if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/the-increase-in-inequality-in-income-is-a-longtime-trend-but-the/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [most economists, like doctors, are reluctant to make predictions, and those who make them are seldom accurate. The economy, like the human body, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/most-economists-like-doctors-are-reluctant-to-make-predictions-and/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [Politicians pay more attention to interest groups than to the public interest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/politicians-pay-more-attention-to-interest-groups-than-to-the-public/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [It's a technical, fairly difficult job that has no particular political connotations, so I doubt there are any big campaign contributors dying to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/it-s-a-technical-fairly-difficult-job-that-has-no-particular/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [The job of the Central Bank is to worry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/the-job-of-the-central-bank-is-to-worry/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) > [The 'American dream' ... means an economy in which people who work hard can get ahead and each new generation lives better than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/the-american-dream-means-an-economy-in-which-people-who-work-hard-can/) [Alice Rivlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) [Explore all 10 Alice Rivlin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/) ## More Cynical quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“Writers whose thoughts are expressed with clarity and precision are assumed by readers to be superficial. Where the meaning is obscured, then readers give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/writers-whose-thoughts-are-expressed-with-clarity-and-precision-are/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [Sure, I’m dramatic and sloppily semi-cynical and semi-sentimental. But, in leisure years I could grow and choose my way. Now I am living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/sure-i-m-dramatic-and-sloppily-semi-cynical-and-semi-sentimental-but/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [We're so immaturely cynical as a culture. We're not wise enough to look at an institution like marriage and to really things about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/we-re-so-immaturely-cynical-as-a-culture-we-re-not-wise-enough-to/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [I'm not cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-not-cynical/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [A well governed people are generally a people who do not think much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-siegfried/a-well-governed-people-are-generally-a-people-who-do-not-think-much/) Andre Siegfried > [I love writers who are insightful enough to be cynical but choose not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-love-writers-who-are-insightful-enough-to-be-cynical-but-choose-not/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [It is a very cynical, skeptical, foolish person that suggests Israel does not need a peace process to have a growing economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/it-is-a-very-cynical-skeptical-foolish-person-that-suggests-israel/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [Songwriters might write cynical, world-wise lyrics and constantly talk about money, but most of us are downright naive when it comes to business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/songwriters-might-write-cynical-world-wise-lyrics-and-constantly-talk/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [No one more cynical than an idealist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/no-one-more-cynical-than-an-idealist/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [I've actually always wanted to write like a one-person show that was sort of a romantic comedy - a show that was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-ve-actually-always-wanted-to-write-like-a-one-person-show-that-was/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [“That's what I've never been able to get about religion: that charmless combination of altruism and insanity. Give me a cynical, self-interested bastard any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/that-s-what-i-ve-never-been-able-to-get-about-religion-that-charmless/) [Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/) > [As the rain falls and the sun shines, they grow, grow, grow; minds so open, they go through life aware and accepting, seeing light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/as-the-rain-falls-and-the-sun-shines-they-grow-grow-grow-minds-so/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [One of the weirdest things that happened to artists and art criticism was this moment when everyone got cynical and stopped believing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/one-of-the-weirdest-things-that-happened-to-artists-and-art-criticism/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) [Browse all 968 Cynical quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cynics about government find much to be cynical about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alice Rivlin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be-cynical-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cynical" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be-cynical-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/alice-rivlin-42902_cynical_cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be_1326093.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/alice-rivlin-42902_cynical_cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be_1326093.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cfd/alice-rivlin-42902_cynical_cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be_1326093.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Cynics about government find much to be cynical about.” — Alice Rivlin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alice Rivlin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-rivlin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Cynics about government find much to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be-cynical-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-rivlin/cynics-about-government-find-much-to-be-cynical-about/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```