--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cynics fooled themselves into thinking…" description: "\"“Cynics fooled themselves into thinking they had sussed out the worst-case scenarios and were invariably surprised by how life trumped them. Dreamers w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/laura-lippman-7439_life_cynics-fooled-themselves-into-thinking-t_1660519.jpg" --- # Cynics fooled themselves into thinking they had sussed out… ![“Cynics fooled themselves into thinking they had sussed out the worst-case scenarios and were invariably surprised by how life trumped them. Dreamers were often disappointed—but seldom in themselves.” quote by Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/laura-lippman-7439_life_cynics-fooled-themselves-into-thinking-t_1660519.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/laura-lippman-7439_life_cynics-fooled-themselves-into-thinking-t_1660519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/laura-lippman-7439_life_cynics-fooled-themselves-into-thinking-t_1660519.jpg) > ““Cynics fooled themselves into thinking they had sussed out the worst-case scenarios and were invariably surprised by how life trumped them. Dreamers were often disappointed—but seldom in themselves.”” [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cynics overestimate their control, while dreamers accept uncertainty, leading to unexpected outcomes. **In simple terms:** Cynics think they know everything, but life surprises them. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and stay adaptable. Themes cynicism optimism uncertainty Mood thoughtful balanced Type advisory philosophical When to use this quote - career planning - financial investing - personal relationships - creative projects Key Concepts psychology risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - Do you over‑plan to avoid surprise? - How can you balance caution with openness? A Different Perspective Cynicism can protect against disappointment; overconfidence may cause risk. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics/) [Dreamers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamers/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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 cynics in life are the people who are always trying to do things for people who don't want things done for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/the-cynics-in-life-are-the-people-who-are-always-trying-to-do-things/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Cynics are - beneath it all - only idealists with awkwardly high standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/cynics-are-beneath-it-all-only-idealists-with-awkwardly-high-standards/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [“Once upon a time, we were cynics facing the world alone. Our story changed into two warrior cynics facing the world together. Now, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/once-upon-a-time-we-were-cynics-facing-the-world-alone-our-story/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [Intellectuals are cynical and cynics have never built a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/intellectuals-are-cynical-and-cynics-have-never-built-a-cathedral/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly cynics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/remember-you-cannot-be-both-young-and-wise-young-people-who-pretend/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [“The Cynics emphasized that true happiness is not found in external advantages such as material luxury, political power, or good health. True happiness lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-cynics-emphasized-that-true-happiness-is-not-found-in-external/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Cynics criticize and winners analyze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/cynics-criticize-and-winners-analyze/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [The cynics are right nine times out of ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-cynics-are-right-nine-times-out-of-ten/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [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/) > [Cynics and critics wake us up. Kindness often covers up the truth and allows us to sleep on in our ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/cynics-and-critics-wake-us-up-kindness-often-covers-up-the-truth-and/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [Don't let the doom criers and the cynics persuade you that the best is past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/don-t-let-the-doom-criers-and-the-cynics-persuade-you-that-the-best/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Trying to prove yourself to cynics is an absolute waste of your time. Making time with people who care about you is worth your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/trying-to-prove-yourself-to-cynics-is-an-absolute-waste-of-your-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Too many judges are fooled into thinking a smile equals style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neshka-robeva/too-many-judges-are-fooled-into-thinking-a-smile-equals-style/) Neshka Robeva ## More by Laura Lippman > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [People still struggle with this notion of gifted writers somehow being in touch with a higher power, but it's all about showing up and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/people-still-struggle-with-this-notion-of-gifted-writers-somehow/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [Every person you meet has a story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/every-person-you-meet-has-a-story/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [If I waited to be inspired to go to the gym, I'd never get there. I schedule my exercise time; I schedule my work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/if-i-waited-to-be-inspired-to-go-to-the-gym-i-d-never-get-there-i/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“I hate to think how many minutes of my life I've spent on goddamn hold. I want those minutes back. When death comes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-hate-to-think-how-many-minutes-of-my-life-i-ve-spent-on-goddamn/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [I've long believed that the work-out life has lessons for the writing life. I've 'solved' a lot of books while at the gym, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-ve-long-believed-that-the-work-out-life-has-lessons-for-the-writing/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [...Baltimore. It's imperfect. Boy, is it imperfect. And there are parts of its past that make you wince. It's not all marble steps and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/baltimore-it-s-imperfect-boy-is-it-imperfect-and-there-are-parts-of/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“She was furious, with the kind of fury peculiar to the nonpaying client. Those who can't afford private attorneys . . . assumed legal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/she-was-furious-with-the-kind-of-fury-peculiar-to-the-nonpaying/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [We become comfortable saying that there's nothing new, and then something like Malarky comes along, which is new and old and different and familiar,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/we-become-comfortable-saying-that-there-s-nothing-new-and-then/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [My husband, David Simon, and I make our livings using our imaginations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/my-husband-david-simon-and-i-make-our-livings-using-our-imaginations/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [I think Baltimore suffers from nostalgia and it keeps us from being honest in talking about what really happened here. A place doesn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-think-baltimore-suffers-from-nostalgia-and-it-keeps-us-from-being/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [Baltimore has been a punchline/punching bag for years - I've landed a few blows, to be fair - but those old jokes are out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/baltimore-has-been-a-punchline-punching-bag-for-years-i-ve-landed-a/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“Working on the editorial page had sharpened Whitney's mind and coarsened her feelings, so she treated every subject as theoretical and abstract. Devil's advocate?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/working-on-the-editorial-page-had-sharpened-whitney-s-mind-and/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [“There it was again, another strange usage. 'We had words.' Everyone has words...What a useless euphemism. The phrases that people used to make things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/there-it-was-again-another-strange-usage-we-had-words-everyone-has/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [I don't know where my phone is half the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/i-don-t-know-where-my-phone-is-half-the-time/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) [Explore all 91 Laura Lippman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) ## More Cynics quotes > [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/) > [Don't let the doom criers and the cynics persuade you that the best is past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/don-t-let-the-doom-criers-and-the-cynics-persuade-you-that-the-best/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Cynics and critics wake us up. Kindness often covers up the truth and allows us to sleep on in our ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/cynics-and-critics-wake-us-up-kindness-often-covers-up-the-truth-and/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [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 cynics are right nine times out of ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-cynics-are-right-nine-times-out-of-ten/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Cynics criticize and winners analyze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/cynics-criticize-and-winners-analyze/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“The Cynics emphasized that true happiness is not found in external advantages such as material luxury, political power, or good health. True happiness lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-cynics-emphasized-that-true-happiness-is-not-found-in-external/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [“After I charge their brains with my own brand of skeptical electricity, I unleash them—the New Cynics—upon a world that is slowly and happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/after-i-charge-their-brains-with-my-own-brand-of-skeptical/) [Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/) > [Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly cynics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/remember-you-cannot-be-both-young-and-wise-young-people-who-pretend/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [Cynics know the answers without having penetrated deeply enough to know the questions. When challenged by mysterious truths, they marshall 'facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/cynics-know-the-answers-without-having-penetrated-deeply-enough-to/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [Intellectuals are cynical and cynics have never built a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/intellectuals-are-cynical-and-cynics-have-never-built-a-cathedral/) [Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/) > [“Once upon a time, we were cynics facing the world alone. Our story changed into two warrior cynics facing the world together. Now, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/once-upon-a-time-we-were-cynics-facing-the-world-alone-our-story/) [Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/) > [“Never surrender your hopes and dreams to the fateful limitations others have placed on their own lives. The vision of your true destiny does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/never-surrender-your-hopes-and-dreams-to-the-fateful-limitations/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [Cynics are - beneath it all - only idealists with awkwardly high standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/cynics-are-beneath-it-all-only-idealists-with-awkwardly-high-standards/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [The cynics in life are the people who are always trying to do things for people who don't want things done for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/the-cynics-in-life-are-the-people-who-are-always-trying-to-do-things/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) [Browse all 86 Cynics quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Cynics fooled themselves into thinking they had sussed out the worst-case scenarios and were invariably surprised by how life trumped them. 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