Cant Quote by Edward Abbey
“I have been called a curmudgeon, which my obsolescent dictionary defines as a "surly, illmannered, badtempered fellow." ... Nowadays, curmudgeon is likely to refer to anyone who hates hypocrisy, cant, sham, dogmatic ideologies, the pretenses and evasions of euphemism, and has the nerve to point out unpleasant facts and takes the trouble to impale these sins on the skewer of humor and roast them over the fires of empiric fact, common sense, and native intelligence. In this nation of bleating sheep and braying jackasses, it then becomes an honor to be labeled curmudgeon.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Curmudgeon's Manifesto, 1975
A self‑identification as a curmudgeon celebrates skepticism toward hypocrisy and pretension, using humor to expose uncomfortable truths.
In simple terms: Being a curmudgeon means challenging falsehoods with humor.
Key Takeaway
Speak truth, even if it hurts.
Themes
skepticism
humor
truth
individualism
Mood
critical
provocative
reflective
Type
essay
manifesto
When to use this quote
- political discourse
- online debates
- personal journaling
Key Concepts
critical thinking
social critique
irony
Questions to Reflect On
- What truths are you avoiding?
- When is humor ineffective?
A Different Perspective
Humor can alienate those unwilling to confront flaws.
![“My dear friend, clear your mind of cant [excessive thought]. You may talk as other people do: you may say to a man, "Sir, I am your most humble servant." You are not his most humble servant. You may say, "These are bad times; it is a melancholy thing to be reserved to such times." You don't mind…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/590/samuel-johnson-50_appropriateness_my-dear-friend-clear-your-mind-of-cant-e_74600.jpg)