--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Will any of those men under you ever…" description: "\"“Will any of those men under you ever really understand all this? They're professional cynics, and it's too late for them. Why do you want to go back w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/ray-bradbury-75_cynics_will-any-of-those-men-under-you-ever-rea_2838151.jpg" --- # Will any of those men under you ever really understand all… ![“Will any of those men under you ever really understand all this? They're professional cynics, and it's too late for them. Why do you want to go back with them? So you can keep up with the Joneses? To buy a gyro just like the Smith has? To listen to music with your pocketbook instead of your glands?” quote by Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/ray-bradbury-75_cynics_will-any-of-those-men-under-you-ever-rea_2838151.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/ray-bradbury-75_cynics_will-any-of-those-men-under-you-ever-rea_2838151.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a1/ray-bradbury-75_cynics_will-any-of-those-men-under-you-ever-rea_2838151.jpg) > ““Will any of those men under you ever really understand all this? They're professional cynics, and it's too late for them. Why do you want to go back with them? So you can keep up with the Joneses? To buy a gyro just like the Smith has? To listen to music with your pocketbook instead of your glands?”” [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A critique of consumer culture and the emptiness of chasing status symbols, suggesting deeper values over material imitation. **In simple terms:** Materialism distracts from true meaning. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic experiences over status. Themes consumerism identity authenticity societal pressure Mood cynical reflective Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - career choices - shopping habits - media consumption - personal values Key Concepts existentialism social critique culture Questions to Reflect On - What truly fulfills you beyond possessions? - How does status chasing affect your wellbeing? A Different Perspective It may overlook the joy some find in aspirational goals. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [The history of free men is never really written by chance but by choice; their choice!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-history-of-free-men-is-never-really-written-by-chance-but-by/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [I've always seen my work as trying to make the connection with men who no one really spends time with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/i-ve-always-seen-my-work-as-trying-to-make-the-connection-with-men/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [It's really hard to get stories made that are about women. Not just women being obsessed with men, or supporting men. And it's really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/it-s-really-hard-to-get-stories-made-that-are-about-women-not-just/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [I get a lot of mail from men who really identify with Stuart, you know, Sparrow's boyfriend. I love that. Even though I used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-bechdel/i-get-a-lot-of-mail-from-men-who-really-identify-with-stuart-you-know/) [Alison Bechdel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-bechdel/) > [Men do not really live for honors or for pay; their happiness is not in the taking and holding, but in the doing, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-marsh/men-do-not-really-live-for-honors-or-for-pay-their-happiness-is-not/) Harry Marsh > [Men are not really born either hopelessly idle, or preternaturally industrious. They may move in one direction or the other as will or circumstances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-aitken-lord-beaverbrook/men-are-not-really-born-either-hopelessly-idle-or-preternaturally/) [Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-aitken-lord-beaverbrook/) > [“No men who really think deeply about women retain a high opinion of them”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-men-who-really-think-deeply-about-women-retain-a-high-opinion-of-2/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [As much as possible, I try to encourage people to use stunt men because that is really their job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-neill/as-much-as-possible-i-try-to-encourage-people-to-use-stunt-men/) [Sam Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-neill/) > [“When a man and woman have sexual relations, who gets the most out of the deal? The man, or the woman? Since we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-nasheed/when-a-man-and-woman-have-sexual-relations-who-gets-the-most-out-of/) Tariq Nasheed > [“Look at it this way: We're two people who happen to have a lot in common, a connection most people would kill for, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-witt/look-at-it-this-way-we-re-two-people-who-happen-to-have-a-lot-in/) [L.A. Witt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-witt/) > [No men who really think deeply about women retain a high opinion of them; men either despise women or they have never thought seriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/no-men-who-really-think-deeply-about-women-retain-a-high-opinion-of/) [Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/) > [I don't think men really fall in love with the outspoken girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/i-don-t-think-men-really-fall-in-love-with-the-outspoken-girl/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [I'm not sure if men really understand this, but I don't think there's a woman in America who really expects her life to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-romney/i-m-not-sure-if-men-really-understand-this-but-i-don-t-think-there-s/) [Ann Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-romney/) > [Men are never really willing to die except for the sake of freedom: therefore they do not believe in dying completely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/men-are-never-really-willing-to-die-except-for-the-sake-of-freedom/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) ## More by Ray Bradbury > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Do you ever read any of the books you burn?" He laughed. "That's against the law!" "Oh. Of course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/do-you-ever-read-any-of-the-books-you-burn-he-laughed-that-s-against/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [There's no reason to burn books if you don't read them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/there-s-no-reason-to-burn-books-if-you-don-t-read-them/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We were put here as witnesses to the miracle of life. We see the stars, and we want them. We are beholden to give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-were-put-here-as-witnesses-to-the-miracle-of-life-we-see-the-stars/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Remember, with writing, what you’re looking for is just one person to come up and tell you, 'I love you for what you do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/remember-with-writing-what-you-re-looking-for-is-just-one-person-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-can-t-learn-to-write-in-college-it-s-a-very-bad-place-for-writers/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We're going to become the martians when we land there. When we explore and build communities, we become the martians. That's a wonderful destiny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-re-going-to-become-the-martians-when-we-land-there-when-we-explore/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I wish you a wrestling match with your Creative Muse that will last a lifetime. ... I wish craziness and foolishness and madness upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-wish-you-a-wrestling-match-with-your-creative-muse-that-will-last-a/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [The library is the biggest cracker box factory in the world. The more you eat, the more you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/the-library-is-the-biggest-cracker-box-factory-in-the-world-the-more/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [We travel for romance, we travel for architecture, and we travel to be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/we-travel-for-romance-we-travel-for-architecture-and-we-travel-to-be/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I spent three days a week for 10 years educating myself in the public library, and it's better than college. People should educate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/i-spent-three-days-a-week-for-10-years-educating-myself-in-the-public/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [If we try to deny the darkness in our souls then we'll become completely dark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/if-we-try-to-deny-the-darkness-in-our-souls-then-we-ll-become/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [But remember that the Captain belongs to the most dangerous enemy to truth and freedom, the solid unmoving cattle of the majority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/but-remember-that-the-captain-belongs-to-the-most-dangerous-enemy-to/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Explore all 1,520 Ray Bradbury quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) ## 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": "“Will any of those men under you ever really understand all this? 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