--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An optimist is a braver cynic." description: "\"“An optimist is a braver cynic.”\" — Colum McCann" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/colum-mccann-902_braver_an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic-1889347_1889347.png" --- # An optimist is a braver cynic. ![“An optimist is a braver cynic.” quote by Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/colum-mccann-902_braver_an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic-1889347_1889347.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/colum-mccann-902_braver_an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic-1889347_1889347.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/colum-mccann-902_braver_an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic-1889347_1889347.png) > ““An optimist is a braver cynic.”” [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A hopeful outlook requires courage to confront reality, blending optimism with critical thinking. **In simple terms:** Optimism needs bravery to face truth. Key Takeaway Embrace brave optimism. Themes courage optimism critical thinking Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - team meetings Key Concepts psychology resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay hopeful while being realistic? - When does optimism become denial? A Different Perspective Optimism may ignore harsh facts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Braver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/braver/) [Braver Cynic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/braver-cynic-2718994/) [Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Cynic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynic/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Optimist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist/) [Optimist Braver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimist-braver-2718993/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) ## Related quotes > [Cynicism is easy. An optimist is a braver cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/cynicism-is-easy-an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [A lot of people have asked me whether I am a cynic or take a cynical view of politics and are often surprised when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beau-willimon/a-lot-of-people-have-asked-me-whether-i-am-a-cynic-or-take-a-cynical/) [Beau Willimon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beau-willimon/) > [He might have been naive, but he didn't care; he said he's rather die with his heart on his sleeve than end up another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/he-might-have-been-naive-but-he-didn-t-care-he-said-he-s-rather-die/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“So, leave the cynics be. Out-cynic them. Step into that elsewhere. Believe that your story is bigger than yourself. In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/so-leave-the-cynics-be-out-cynic-them-step-into-that-elsewhere/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [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 cynic knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-cynic-knows-the-price-of-everything-and-the-value-of-nothing/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The cynic sees only cynicism, the depressive can taint creation with one glance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-funder/the-cynic-sees-only-cynicism-the-depressive-can-taint-creation-with/) [Anna Funder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-funder/) > [“The imagination is a cynic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/the-imagination-is-a-cynic/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [I don't consider myself a cynic. I think of myself as a skeptic and a realist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-cynic-i-think-of-myself-as-a-skeptic-and-a/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [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/) > [The cynic makes fun of all earnestness; he makes fun of everything and everyone who feels that something can be done. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edgar-vincent/the-cynic-makes-fun-of-all-earnestness-he-makes-fun-of-everything-and/) [George Edgar Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-edgar-vincent/) > [I get the cynicism thing all the time, although I don't really know where that comes from, because I think I'm actually the opposite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-taibbi/i-get-the-cynicism-thing-all-the-time-although-i-don-t-really-know/) [Matt Taibbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-taibbi/) > [Only the broken-hearted idealist can become a cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-clifton/only-the-broken-hearted-idealist-can-become-a-cynic/) [Mark Clifton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-clifton/) > [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/) > [I'm a pessimist because of intelligence, but an optimist because of will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-gramsci/i-m-a-pessimist-because-of-intelligence-but-an-optimist-because-of/) [Antonio Gramsci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-gramsci/) ## More by Colum McCann > [Give life long enough and it will solve all your problems, including the one of being alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/give-life-long-enough-and-it-will-solve-all-your-problems-including/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“There is something that happens to the mind in moments of terror. Perhaps we figure it's the last we'll ever have and we record…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/there-is-something-that-happens-to-the-mind-in-moments-of-terror/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“The short sharp shock of three thousand mother two hundred mothers. The ones who picked through the supermarket debris for pieces of their dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/the-short-sharp-shock-of-three-thousand-mother-two-hundred-mothers/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [I'm not so sure that I can teach people how to, you know, write dialogue or create plot or anything like that. But if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/i-m-not-so-sure-that-i-can-teach-people-how-to-you-know-write/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“Once we had filled each other with desire, not remembrance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/once-we-had-filled-each-other-with-desire-not-remembrance/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“How long ago it was and how strange, but all dead friends come to life again sometimes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/how-long-ago-it-was-and-how-strange-but-all-dead-friends-come-to-life/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“She would want, instead, to recall him in the air, between layers of cloud. To give him back that ancient dignity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/she-would-want-instead-to-recall-him-in-the-air-between-layers-of/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [Novels are more difficult simply because they are longer and require more juggling, but short stories are closer to perfection, if you can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/novels-are-more-difficult-simply-because-they-are-longer-and-require/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [It was a silence that heard itself, awful and beautiful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/it-was-a-silence-that-heard-itself-awful-and-beautiful/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [I think one of the biggest political failures, and the biggest social failures, over the past few years has been the failure of empathy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/i-think-one-of-the-biggest-political-failures-and-the-biggest-social/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“Bits of it floating in the air, he said. "It's like dust. You walk about and don't see it, don't notice it, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/bits-of-it-floating-in-the-air-he-said-it-s-like-dust-you-walk-about/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“He has read whole volumes on the philosophy of nonviolence. How peace had to be understood in all its moral dimensions. The proper coexistence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/he-has-read-whole-volumes-on-the-philosophy-of-nonviolence-how-peace/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“She’s always thought that one of the beauties of New York is that you can be from anywhere and within moments of landing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/she-s-always-thought-that-one-of-the-beauties-of-new-york-is-that-you/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [I'm of the opinion that the real is imagined and the imagined is quite real. The real is imagined, in the sense that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/i-m-of-the-opinion-that-the-real-is-imagined-and-the-imagined-is/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) > [“She had that emigrant’s sadness—she would never go back to her old country—it was gone in more senses than one—but she was forever gazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/she-had-that-emigrant-s-sadness-she-would-never-go-back-to-her-old/) [Colum McCann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) [Explore all 333 Colum McCann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/) ## More Braver quotes > [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/) [Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/) > [Next time I'll be braver, I'll be my own savior, Standing on my own two feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/next-time-i-ll-be-braver-i-ll-be-my-own-savior-standing-on-my-own-two/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [Next time I'll be braver. I'll be my own savior. When the thunder calls for me. Next time I'll be braver. I'll be my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adele/next-time-i-ll-be-braver-i-ll-be-my-own-savior-when-the-thunder-calls/) [Adele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adele/) > [You are Braver than you Believe, Smarter than you Seem, and Stronger than you Think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-braver-than-you-believe-smarter-than-you-seem-and-stronger/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am Mae Claire Esparraguerra Dogillo version 2.0 \| Braver. Bolder. Fiercer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-claire-e-dogillo/i-am-mae-claire-esparraguerra-dogillo-version-2-0-braver-bolder/) [Mae Claire E Dogillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-claire-e-dogillo/) > [When something goes wrong in your life, it doesn't finish you, and you should become braver, knowing that you've got to go for things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-southgate/when-something-goes-wrong-in-your-life-it-doesn-t-finish-you-and-you/) [Gareth Southgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-southgate/) > [We are braver and wiser because they existed, those strong women and strong men... We are who we are because they were who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/we-are-braver-and-wiser-because-they-existed-those-strong-women-and/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Becoming a CoverGirl is truly an honor and a gift. It opens up a new platform for me to inspire women to feel stronger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/becoming-a-covergirl-is-truly-an-honor-and-a-gift-it-opens-up-a-new/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [“Machines are braver than art.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-barthelme/machines-are-braver-than-art/) [Donald Barthelme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-barthelme/) > [“You're braver than you think, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-milne-2/you-re-braver-than-you-think-and-stronger-than-you-seem-and-smarter/) [A.A. Milne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-milne-2/) > [“If I was a braver man, I'd leave things the way they are, but I can't. You asked me why I'm a coward because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-houck/if-i-was-a-braver-man-i-d-leave-things-the-way-they-are-but-i-can-t/) [Colleen Houck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-houck/) > [“Become braver, stronger, wiser, kinder, and you will become better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/become-braver-stronger-wiser-kinder-and-you-will-become-better/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“She’s braver than she needs to be,” he continued. “Maybe, just maybe, she could be the one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-anastasia/she-s-braver-than-she-needs-to-be-he-continued-maybe-just-maybe-she/) [Debra Anastasia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-anastasia/) > [I thought I was weak and couldn't be on my own. But actually, I can do it; I just need to be a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-atack/i-thought-i-was-weak-and-couldn-t-be-on-my-own-but-actually-i-can-do/) [Emily Atack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-atack/) > [“Do what I sometimes do when I get scared: imagine you’re someone else, someone who’s far braver and smarter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-t-sullivan/do-what-i-sometimes-do-when-i-get-scared-imagine-you-re-someone-else/) [Mark T. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-t-sullivan/) [Browse all 61 Braver quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/braver/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“An optimist is a braver cynic.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Colum McCann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Braver" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/colum-mccann-902_braver_an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic-1889347_1889347.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/colum-mccann-902_braver_an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic-1889347_1889347.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/colum-mccann-902_braver_an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic-1889347_1889347.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An optimist is a braver cynic.” — Colum McCann", "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": "Colum McCann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colum-mccann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“An optimist is a braver cynic.”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colum-mccann/an-optimist-is-a-braver-cynic/#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 } } ] } ```