--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scratch the surface of any cynic, and you…" description: "\"Scratch the surface of any cynic, and you will find a wounded idealist underneath. Because of previous pain or disappointment, cynics make their conclu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/john-ortberg-932_accepting_scratch-the-surface-of-any-cynic-and-you_2021840.jpg" --- # Scratch the surface of any cynic, and you will find a… ![“Scratch the surface of any cynic, and you will find a wounded idealist underneath. Because of previous pain or disappointment, cynics make their conclusions about life before the questions have even been asked. This means that beyond just seeing what is wrong with the world, cynics lack the…” quote by John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/john-ortberg-932_accepting_scratch-the-surface-of-any-cynic-and-you_2021840.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/john-ortberg-932_accepting_scratch-the-surface-of-any-cynic-and-you_2021840.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c33/john-ortberg-932_accepting_scratch-the-surface-of-any-cynic-and-you_2021840.jpg) > “Scratch the surface of any cynic, and you will find a wounded idealist underneath. Because of previous pain or disappointment, cynics make their conclusions about life before the questions have even been asked. This means that beyond just seeing what is wrong with the world, cynics lack the courage to do something about it. The dynamic beneath cynicism is a fear of accepting responsibility.” [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cynicism hides a wounded idealist; pain leads to premature judgments and avoidance of responsibility. **In simple terms:** Cynics hide hurt and fear responsibility. Key Takeaway Recognize and address underlying hurt. Themes cynicism idealism responsibility fear Mood reflective empathetic Type advice psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution - mental health counseling Key Concepts psychology defense mechanisms self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - What wounds might be driving your cynicism? - How can you foster responsibility without fear? A Different Perspective Cynicism can also stem from genuine skepticism, not just fear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) [Accepting responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-responsibility/) [Beneath Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beneath-cynicism-3666737/) [Conclusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conclusion/) [Cynic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynic/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Cynicism Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism-fear-894585/) [Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics/) [Cynics Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics-lack-3666741/) [Cynics Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics-make-3666739/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Idealist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idealist/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Scratches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scratches/) [Surface](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surface/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Wounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wounded/) ## Related quotes > [Cynicism is fear posing as confidence; joy is hope let off the leash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/cynicism-is-fear-posing-as-confidence-joy-is-hope-let-off-the-leash/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [It is cynicism and fear that freeze life; it is faith that thaws it out, releases it, sets it free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/it-is-cynicism-and-fear-that-freeze-life-it-is-faith-that-thaws-it/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Energy always flows either toward hope, community, love, generosity, mutual recognition, and spiritual aliveness or it flows toward despair, cynicism, fear that there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lerner/energy-always-flows-either-toward-hope-community-love-generosity/) [Michael Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lerner/) > [“Pessimism, cynicism and fear will only lead to a very small life. Don’t live small.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-abramson/pessimism-cynicism-and-fear-will-only-lead-to-a-very-small-life-don-t/) [Neil Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-abramson/) > [I think we too often make choices based on the safety of cynicism, and what we're lead to is a life not fully lived.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-burns/i-think-we-too-often-make-choices-based-on-the-safety-of-cynicism-and/) [Ken Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-burns/) > [It is time to return to those core values, time to get back to basics: to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-major/it-is-time-to-return-to-those-core-values-time-to-get-back-to-basics/) [John Major](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-major/) > [Accepting responsibility is the fulcrum point for succeeding at anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/accepting-responsibility-is-the-fulcrum-point-for-succeeding-at/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [Accepting responsibility for the actions of others contributes to your own greatness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-louis-cole/accepting-responsibility-for-the-actions-of-others-contributes-to/) [Edwin Louis Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-louis-cole/) > [The key to accepting responsibility for your life is to accept the fact that your choices, every one of them, are leading you inexorably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/the-key-to-accepting-responsibility-for-your-life-is-to-accept-the/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [Accepting responsibility for problems that you didn't cause is a reflection of true humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-responsibility-for-problems-that-you-didn-t-cause-is-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Its always easier to place the blame on someone else. Accepting responsibility for one's actions is not a key trait for many!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/its-always-easier-to-place-the-blame-on-someone-else-accepting/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accepting responsibility for your life means you are aware that you know it is yourself who makes decisions for where it goes. No one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/accepting-responsibility-for-your-life-means-you-are-aware-that-you/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“With great power comes great responsibility.” It is true. But there’s a better version of this quote, a version that actually is profound, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/with-great-power-comes-great-responsibility-it-is-true-but-there-s-a/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [A refusal to admit one's mistake & not accepting responsibility for that mistake by blaming everyone else, is d beginning of one's decline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-refusal-to-admit-one-s-mistake-not-accepting-responsibility-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They must move from a psychological state of victimization to a psychological state of accepting responsibility. The Palestinians must leave behind their revolutionary adolescence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ari-shavit/they-must-move-from-a-psychological-state-of-victimization-to-a/) [Ari Shavit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ari-shavit/) ## More by John Ortberg > [“What do we do in the dark night? We do nothing. We wait. We remember that we are not God. We hold on. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/what-do-we-do-in-the-dark-night-we-do-nothing-we-wait-we-remember/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [If we are serious about loving God, we must begin with people, all people. And especially we must learn to love those that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/if-we-are-serious-about-loving-god-we-must-begin-with-people-all/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The greatest bloodbaths in the history of the human race were recorded in the twentieth century in countries that sought to eliminate God, worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-greatest-bloodbaths-in-the-history-of-the-human-race-were/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [There is no way for a human being to come to God that does not involve surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/there-is-no-way-for-a-human-being-to-come-to-god-that-does-not/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Will you keep going when you don't know why? When you can't get any answers that would make the pain go away, will you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/will-you-keep-going-when-you-don-t-know-why-when-you-can-t-get-any/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Death is the prerequisite to resurrection, the new life God intends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/death-is-the-prerequisite-to-resurrection-the-new-life-god-intends/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [From ancient times, the core idea of the soul is the soul is the capacity to integrate different functions into a single being or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/from-ancient-times-the-core-idea-of-the-soul-is-the-soul-is-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/hurry-is-the-great-enemy-of-spiritual-life-in-our-day-you-must/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [In reality, each thought we have carries with it a little spiritual power, a tug toward or away from God. No thought is purely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/in-reality-each-thought-we-have-carries-with-it-a-little-spiritual/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [The miracle of Sunday is that a dead man lives. The miracle of Saturday is that the eternal Son of God lies dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-miracle-of-sunday-is-that-a-dead-man-lives-the-miracle-of/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“The most important thing about you,” Dallas would often say, “is not the things that you achieve; it is the person that you become.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/the-most-important-thing-about-you-dallas-would-often-say-is-not-the/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [Jesus had a universal concern for those who suffered that transcended the rules of the ancient world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/jesus-had-a-universal-concern-for-those-who-suffered-that-transcended/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [God is a God of endless opportunities to do good; the God of the open door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/god-is-a-god-of-endless-opportunities-to-do-good-the-god-of-the-open/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [One of the most painful aspects of suffering is the loneliness of it. Others may offer support or empathy, but no one can walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/one-of-the-most-painful-aspects-of-suffering-is-the-loneliness-of-it/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) [Explore all 325 John Ortberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) [Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scratch the surface of any cynic, and you will find a wounded idealist underneath. Because of previous pain or disappointment, cynics make their conclusions about life before the questions have even been asked. This means that beyond just seeing what is wrong with the world, cynics lack the courage to do something about it. 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