---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cynicism is one of the terrible obstacles…"
description: "\"“Cynicism is one of the terrible obstacles to progress.”\" — Bryant McGill"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/bryant-mcgill-108_bitterness_cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacle_2116014.jpg"
---

#  Cynicism is one of the terrible obstacles to progress.

![“Cynicism is one of the terrible obstacles to progress.” quote by Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/bryant-mcgill-108_bitterness_cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacle_2116014.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/bryant-mcgill-108_bitterness_cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacle_2116014.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/bryant-mcgill-108_bitterness_cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacle_2116014.jpg)

> ““Cynicism is one of the terrible obstacles to progress.””

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Cynicism blocks progress by fostering doubt and discouraging effort, hindering innovation and growth.

**In simple terms:** Cynicism hinders progress.

Key Takeaway

Challenge skeptical attitudes.

Themes

psychology progress mindset motivation growth

Mood

reflective hopeful determined

Type

motivational philosophical self‑help

When to use this quote

- team projects
- personal development
- social reform
- creative work

Key Concepts

negativity bias self‑fulfilling prophecy optimism

Questions to Reflect On

- What fuels your cynicism?
- How can you cultivate constructive skepticism?

A Different Perspective

Overcoming cynicism requires deliberate optimism, which may feel forced.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Cynicism Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism-terrible-4293813/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Obstacles Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles-progress-412741/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Terrible Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible-obstacles-3191277/)

## Related quotes

> [The biggest obstacles to our progress exist within our own lives in the form of cowardice and the tendency to give up. Breaking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/the-biggest-obstacles-to-our-progress-exist-within-our-own-lives-in/)

[Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/)

> [The sea is dangerous and its storms terrible, but these obstacles have never been sufficient reason to remain ashore...unlike the mediocre, intrepid spirits seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-magellan/the-sea-is-dangerous-and-its-storms-terrible-but-these-obstacles-have/)

[Ferdinand Magellan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-magellan/)

> [I had some ambition. I meant everything to be different with me. I thought I had more strength and mastery. But the most terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/i-had-some-ambition-i-meant-everything-to-be-different-with-me-i/)

[George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/)

> [The neo-conservatives, who are closely linked to the neo-corporatists, are rather different. They claim to be conservatives, when everything they stand for is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ralston-saul/the-neo-conservatives-who-are-closely-linked-to-the-neo-corporatists/)

[John Ralston Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ralston-saul/)

> [Every person has the power to make others happy. Some do it simply by entering a room others by leaving the room. Some individuals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/every-person-has-the-power-to-make-others-happy-some-do-it-simply-by/)

[William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/)

> [Divorce is the hardest obstacle I've had to overcome in my life. I would like to believe that most people don't get married anticipating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-king/divorce-is-the-hardest-obstacle-i-ve-had-to-overcome-in-my-life-i/)

[Regina King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-king/)

> [If you're going to reach for it, reach all the way for it. Albums like 'Purple Rain' and 'Thriller' and those kind of records,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-sitek/if-you-re-going-to-reach-for-it-reach-all-the-way-for-it-albums-like/)

[Dave Sitek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-sitek/)

> [“Wish in one hand, shit in the other, see which one fills up faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-oxenhandler/wish-in-one-hand-shit-in-the-other-see-which-one-fills-up-faster/)

[Noelle Oxenhandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-oxenhandler/)

> [“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/)

> [I think growing up in Indiana prepares anyone for a life in comedy. I do feel like there is a certain kind of self-effacing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-think-growing-up-in-indiana-prepares-anyone-for-a-life-in-comedy-i/)

[Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/)

> [There's a distinct unease about Americans when they are outside the United States. I can't say quite what it is, but they are easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/there-s-a-distinct-unease-about-americans-when-they-are-outside-the/)

[Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/)

> [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/)

> [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/)

[Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/)

> [There have been times when a particularly heavy dose of such cynicism has caused me to reflect that surely this is the age and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/there-have-been-times-when-a-particularly-heavy-dose-of-such-cynicism/)

[Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/)

> [Scepticism and cynicism about politics is so great that one of the best counters to it is what you can do at a local…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-miliband/scepticism-and-cynicism-about-politics-is-so-great-that-one-of-the/)

[Ed Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-miliband/)

## More by Bryant McGill

> [“Witnessing a selfless act brings tears to remind us how we should be treating others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/witnessing-a-selfless-act-brings-tears-to-remind-us-how-we-should-be/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The teacher can only provide the lessons, but the student ultimately decides what to learn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-teacher-can-only-provide-the-lessons-but-the-student-ultimately/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Start the daily practice of joyful living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/start-the-daily-practice-of-joyful-living/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“You have permission to walk away from anything that doesn't feel right. Trust your instincts and listen to your inner-voice — it's trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-have-permission-to-walk-away-from-anything-that-doesn-t-feel/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Fun is not an activity, it is a state of mind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/fun-is-not-an-activity-it-is-a-state-of-mind/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“You cannot change another person's mind or educate them; this they must do themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/you-cannot-change-another-person-s-mind-or-educate-them-this-they/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The public good must come before private interests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-public-good-must-come-before-private-interests/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Countries, states, cities, corporations and laws are all words on paper.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/countries-states-cities-corporations-and-laws-are-all-words-on-paper/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“We must remember that nature is the supreme cradle of life, and must be protected and treated with the highest respect and care.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/we-must-remember-that-nature-is-the-supreme-cradle-of-life-and-must/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The world is not fair, and often fools, cowards, liars and the selfish hide in high places. (p 57)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-world-is-not-fair-and-often-fools-cowards-liars-and-the-selfish/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Even discomfort or pain delivers awareness of life, and an opportunity for gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/even-discomfort-or-pain-delivers-awareness-of-life-and-an-opportunity/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“The secret to unseating great power, is not to move the other direction, but to compete directly against their goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/the-secret-to-unseating-great-power-is-not-to-move-the-other/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“In the moments of your deepest need, despair and desperation, what you need more than any other thing, is calm and faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/in-the-moments-of-your-deepest-need-despair-and-desperation-what-you/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“It is essential that you follow your own idea of passion, even if to others it looks like suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/it-is-essential-that-you-follow-your-own-idea-of-passion-even-if-to/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

> [“Joy is a practice, not an involuntary state.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/joy-is-a-practice-not-an-involuntary-state/)

[Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

[Explore all 1,286 Bryant McGill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/)

## More Bitterness quotes

> [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/)

[Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/)

> [Stronger than alcohol, vaster than poetry, Ferment the freckled red bitterness of love!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-rimbaud/stronger-than-alcohol-vaster-than-poetry-ferment-the-freckled-red/)

[Arthur Rimbaud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-rimbaud/)

> [“What?" I ask. I try not to get snappy with her. She hasn't really done anything wrong. Falling in love with Turner isn't a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/what-i-ask-i-try-not-to-get-snappy-with-her-she-hasn-t-really-done/)

[C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/)

> [“The fairest things have fleetest end, Their scent survives their close: But the rose’s scent is bitterness To him that loved the rose. —Francis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-fairest-things-have-fleetest-end-their-scent-survives-their-close/)

[Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/)

> [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/)

[Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/)

> [“No," I say. "I didn't know that," and as I say it I feel flooded with bitterness at all the things Ingrid kept secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/no-i-say-i-didn-t-know-that-and-as-i-say-it-i-feel-flooded-with/)

[Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/)

> [Forgiving someone who've done you wrong or didn't treat you right could mean that you are allowing yourself to end up away from bitterness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/april-t-pascua/forgiving-someone-who-ve-done-you-wrong-or-didn-t-treat-you-right/)

[April T Pascua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/april-t-pascua/)

> [You cannot be inspired if you are surrounded with negativity, open the door and step into the inspirational garden of nature. Do not let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/you-cannot-be-inspired-if-you-are-surrounded-with-negativity-open-the/)

[Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/)

> [It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. Carry it by the comfortable handles of gratitude for what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-horne/it-s-not-the-load-that-breaks-you-down-it-s-the-way-you-carry-it/)

[Lena Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-horne/)

> [Not forgiving prolongs hurt and anger and leads to smoldering resentment, which will make us miserable until it kills us. Resentment destroys the perception…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-walters/not-forgiving-prolongs-hurt-and-anger-and-leads-to-smoldering/)

[Richard Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-walters/)

> [Let us not give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-not-give-in-to-pessimism-to-that-bitterness-that-the-devil/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“Sometimes it is good to remind ourselves how bitterness tastes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rin-chupeco/sometimes-it-is-good-to-remind-ourselves-how-bitterness-tastes/)

[Rin Chupeco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rin-chupeco/)

> [What folly made young people, even those in middle age, think they were immortal? How much better, their lives, if they could remember the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohinton-mistry/what-folly-made-young-people-even-those-in-middle-age-think-they-were/)

[Rohinton Mistry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohinton-mistry/)

> [Be sure there is something waiting for you after much patience, to astonish you to a degree, that you forget the bitterness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/be-sure-there-is-something-waiting-for-you-after-much-patience-to/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

[Browse all 1,210 Bitterness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitterness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Cynicism is one of the terrible obstacles to progress.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Bryant McGill"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacles-to-progress/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bitterness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacles-to-progress/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/bryant-mcgill-108_bitterness_cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacle_2116014.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/bryant-mcgill-108_bitterness_cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacle_2116014.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5cb/bryant-mcgill-108_bitterness_cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacle_2116014.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Cynicism is one of the terrible obstacles to progress.” — Bryant McGill",
                "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": "Bryant McGill",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Cynicism is one of the terrible...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacles-to-progress/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/cynicism-is-one-of-the-terrible-obstacles-to-progress/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
