--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the reason I was successful is…" description: "\"I think the reason I was successful is that I was never cynical.\" — Carol Burnett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/carol-burnett-3457_cynical_i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-t_2658857.png" --- # I think the reason I was successful is that I was never… ![“I think the reason I was successful is that I was never cynical.” quote by Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/carol-burnett-3457_cynical_i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-t_2658857.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/carol-burnett-3457_cynical_i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-t_2658857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/carol-burnett-3457_cynical_i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-t_2658857.png) > “I think the reason I was successful is that I was never cynical.” [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success stems from maintaining optimism and avoiding cynicism, which keeps perspective clear and resilient. **In simple terms:** Being optimistic helped her succeed. Key Takeaway Stay hopeful, avoid cynicism. Themes optimism success resilience Mood hopeful confident Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career development - personal growth - leadership Key Concepts positive mindset psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does optimism affect decision making? - Can you recall a time cyn cynicism hindered you? A Different Perspective Cynicism can blind opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful/) ## Related quotes > [Some people get very successful for something they're very cynical about - like Alec Guinness in 'Star Wars.' He thought it was ridiculous. Whereas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harbour/some-people-get-very-successful-for-something-they-re-very-cynical/) [David Harbour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harbour/) > [I don't dwell on success. Maybe that's one reason I'm successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-klein/i-don-t-dwell-on-success-maybe-that-s-one-reason-i-m-successful/) [Calvin Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-klein/) > [My siblings, along with my parents Chris and Kath, are the reason that I am successful. Whether I wanted to become an elementary school…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinead-burke/my-siblings-along-with-my-parents-chris-and-kath-are-the-reason-that/) [Sinead Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinead-burke/) > [One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that there has got to be a reason for what you're doing. You actually have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-butterfield/one-of-the-biggest-lessons-i-ve-learned-is-that-there-has-got-to-be-a/) [Stewart Butterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-butterfield/) > [The reason why I'm such a successful pugilist is that no one knows my limitations better than me. I am quite good, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/the-reason-why-i-m-such-a-successful-pugilist-is-that-no-one-knows-my/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [The reason I became such a successful athlete was my mind was saying that no matter who you put up against me, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jordan/the-reason-i-became-such-a-successful-athlete-was-my-mind-was-saying/) [Michael Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jordan/) > [The reason we're successful, darling? My overall charisma, of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/the-reason-we-re-successful-darling-my-overall-charisma-of-course/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I think the reason I was successful in my rookie season is because I was having a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denny-hamlin/i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-in-my-rookie-season-is-because-i/) [Denny Hamlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denny-hamlin/) > [The reason I became successful is because I touched. I touched my community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-vaynerchuk/the-reason-i-became-successful-is-because-i-touched-i-touched-my/) [Gary Vaynerchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-vaynerchuk/) > [The only reason I am successful is because I have stayed true to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsey-stirling/the-only-reason-i-am-successful-is-because-i-have-stayed-true-to/) [Lindsey Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsey-stirling/) > [We've had three big ideas at Amazon that we've stuck with for 18 years, and thy're the reason we're successful: Put the customer first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-bezos/we-ve-had-three-big-ideas-at-amazon-that-we-ve-stuck-with-for-18-2/) [Jeff Bezos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-bezos/) > [Similarly, I think I'm lucky that I've never had a crisis about whether the only reason I'm successful is because I'm crazy hot. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kendrick/similarly-i-think-i-m-lucky-that-i-ve-never-had-a-crisis-about/) [Anna Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kendrick/) > [I think part of the reason that I have been successful, though, despite maybe not always fitting my message into the pre-packaged formulas, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-part-of-the-reason-that-i-have-been-successful-though-despite/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The only reason we're not successful in life is because we haven't pushing ourselves beyond our limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-reason-we-re-not-successful-in-life-is-because-we-haven-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-not-cynical/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) ## More by Carol Burnett > [Edgy is fine - I'm not a prude by any stretch of the imagination - but what's wrong with a good ol' belly laugh?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/edgy-is-fine-i-m-not-a-prude-by-any-stretch-of-the-imagination-but/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [When I went to New York to try and make it, I never thought it wouldn't happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/when-i-went-to-new-york-to-try-and-make-it-i-never-thought-it-wouldn/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [Because of YouTube, I'm getting fan mail from 10-year-olds and teenagers and college kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/because-of-youtube-i-m-getting-fan-mail-from-10-year-olds-and/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [My grandmother and I would go see movies, and we'd come back to the apartment - we had a one-room apartment in Hollywood -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/my-grandmother-and-i-would-go-see-movies-and-we-d-come-back-to-the/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [“Because nobody goes though life without a scar.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/because-nobody-goes-though-life-without-a-scar/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [My childhood was rough, we were poor and my parents were alcoholics, but nobody was mean. I knew I was loved. We were on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/my-childhood-was-rough-we-were-poor-and-my-parents-were-alcoholics/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [I'm glad I was born when I was. My time was the golden age of variety. If I were starting out again now, maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-m-glad-i-was-born-when-i-was-my-time-was-the-golden-age-of-variety/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [If you see a kid in school, who is a little shy ... that's when you should reach out. When you do, you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/if-you-see-a-kid-in-school-who-is-a-little-shy-that-s-when-you-should/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [You know, one wonderful thing that came out of my Enquirer experience is that, in my case, it was ruled tabloids are magazines. Which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/you-know-one-wonderful-thing-that-came-out-of-my-enquirer-experience/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [I have always grown from my problems and challenges, from the things that don't work out, that's when I've really learned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-have-always-grown-from-my-problems-and-challenges-from-the-things/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [Daddy, when he drank, just became sweeter. There wasn't a mean thought in his body. I've always said he was like a drunk Jimmy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/daddy-when-he-drank-just-became-sweeter-there-wasn-t-a-mean-thought/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [I always preferred working with somebody so I could look into their eyeballs and play tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-always-preferred-working-with-somebody-so-i-could-look-into-their/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [I do the 'New York Times' crossword puzzle every morning to keep the old grey matter ticking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-do-the-new-york-times-crossword-puzzle-every-morning-to-keep-the/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [I am not a joke-teller. Stand-up, I couldn't do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-am-not-a-joke-teller-stand-up-i-couldn-t-do/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [It all happened the way it was supposed to. I wouldn't change anything. I had such a great run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/it-all-happened-the-way-it-was-supposed-to-i-wouldn-t-change-anything/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) [Explore all 130 Carol Burnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) ## 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": "I think the reason I was successful is that I was never cynical.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carol Burnett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-that-i-was-never-cynical/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cynical" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-that-i-was-never-cynical/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/carol-burnett-3457_cynical_i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-t_2658857.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/carol-burnett-3457_cynical_i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-t_2658857.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/575/carol-burnett-3457_cynical_i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-t_2658857.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the reason I was successful is that I was never cynical.” — Carol Burnett", "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": "Carol Burnett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the reason I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-that-i-was-never-cynical/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/i-think-the-reason-i-was-successful-is-that-i-was-never-cynical/#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 } } ] } ```