---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would rather die a dreamer than live as…"
description: "\"I would rather die a dreamer than live as a cynic.\" — Scott Crow"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0f/scott-crow-75977_cynic_i-would-rather-die-a-dreamer-than-live-a_621284.jpg"
---

#  I would rather die a dreamer than live as a cynic.

![“I would rather die a dreamer than live as a cynic.” quote by Scott Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0f/scott-crow-75977_cynic_i-would-rather-die-a-dreamer-than-live-a_621284.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0f/scott-crow-75977_cynic_i-would-rather-die-a-dreamer-than-live-a_621284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0f/scott-crow-75977_cynic_i-would-rather-die-a-dreamer-than-live-a_621284.jpg)

> “I would rather die a dreamer than live as a cynic.”

[Scott Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-crow/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Choosing optimism over cynicism leads to a more fulfilling life.

**In simple terms:** Prefer dreaming to being cynical.

Key Takeaway

Embrace hope, avoid cynicism.

Themes

optimism dreams life philosophy

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- career choices
- personal goals
- creative projects

Key Concepts

Idealism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Do you fear becoming a cynic?
- What dream drives you?

A Different Perspective

Dreams may be unrealistic without planning.

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[Cynic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynic/) [Die Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/die-dreamer-5026624/) [Dies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dies/) [Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamer/) [Dreamer Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamer-live-3241392/) [Dying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dying/) [Live Cynic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-cynic-5026623/)

## Related quotes

> [Phase into the dream of the dreamer and live thru the eyes of the possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jovette-elise-cutaiar/phase-into-the-dream-of-the-dreamer-and-live-thru-the-eyes-of-the/)

[Jovette Elise Cutaiar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jovette-elise-cutaiar/)

> [The truth is, I pretend to be a cynic, but I am really a dreamer who is terrified of wanting something she may never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-hoffman/the-truth-is-i-pretend-to-be-a-cynic-but-i-am-really-a-dreamer-who-is/)

[Joanna Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-hoffman/)

> [ \[in the\]..curious way that my idealism has been mixed with my fatalism, so that I can possess the soul of a dreamer and that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-the-curious-way-that-my-idealism-has-been-mixed-with-my-fatalism/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [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/)

> [The idea of The Boy Vs. The Cynic is the tension between the wide-eyed optimism in youthfulness where you think nothing can go wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reuben-zappin/the-idea-of-the-boy-vs-the-cynic-is-the-tension-between-the-wide-eyed/)

[John Reuben Zappin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reuben-zappin/)

> [Remember that all is opinion. For what was said by the Cynic Monimus is manifest: and manifest too is the use of what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/remember-that-all-is-opinion-for-what-was-said-by-the-cynic-monimus/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [An executive should be a realist; and no one is less realistic than the cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/an-executive-should-be-a-realist-and-no-one-is-less-realistic-than/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [“Listen, O lord of the meeting rivers, things standing shall fall, but the moving ever shall stay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basava/listen-o-lord-of-the-meeting-rivers-things-standing-shall-fall-but/)

[Basava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basava/)

> [“Skeptics are always marked by their total lack of skepticism towards whatever position they are defending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madison/skeptics-are-always-marked-by-their-total-lack-of-skepticism-towards/)

[Steve Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-madison/)

> [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/)

> [Why should we strive, with cynic frown, to knock their fairy castles down?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-cook/why-should-we-strive-with-cynic-frown-to-knock-their-fairy-castles/)

[Eliza Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-cook/)

> [“That's what I've never been able to get about religion: that charmless combination of altruism and insanity. Give me a cynical, self-interested bastard any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/that-s-what-i-ve-never-been-able-to-get-about-religion-that-charmless/)

[Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/)

> [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/)

> [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

## More by Scott Crow

> [The realizations of anarchist ideas and practices are like sociopolitical ecosystems. Local versions resemble each other, but they are endlessly adaptive and everywhere different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-crow/the-realizations-of-anarchist-ideas-and-practices-are-like/)

[Scott Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-crow/)

> [I firmly believe people have the power to make decisions locally and cooperatively. Anarchism is how that is put into practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-crow/i-firmly-believe-people-have-the-power-to-make-decisions-locally-and/)

[Scott Crow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-crow/)

[Explore all 3 Scott Crow quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-crow/)

## More Cynic quotes

> [The only activity a cynic will find contagious is yawning, that is, with other people, at other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/the-only-activity-a-cynic-will-find-contagious-is-yawning-that-is/)

[Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/)

> [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/)

> [“That's what I've never been able to get about religion: that charmless combination of altruism and insanity. Give me a cynical, self-interested bastard any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-carey/that-s-what-i-ve-never-been-able-to-get-about-religion-that-charmless/)

[Mike Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-carey/)

> [Why should we strive, with cynic frown, to knock their fairy castles down?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-cook/why-should-we-strive-with-cynic-frown-to-knock-their-fairy-castles/)

[Eliza Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-cook/)

> [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/)

> [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/)

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> [“Skeptics are always marked by their total lack of skepticism towards whatever position they are defending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madison/skeptics-are-always-marked-by-their-total-lack-of-skepticism-towards/)

[Steve Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-madison/)

> [“Listen, O lord of the meeting rivers, things standing shall fall, but the moving ever shall stay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/basava/listen-o-lord-of-the-meeting-rivers-things-standing-shall-fall-but/)

[Basava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/basava/)

> [An executive should be a realist; and no one is less realistic than the cynic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/an-executive-should-be-a-realist-and-no-one-is-less-realistic-than/)

[Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/)

> [Remember that all is opinion. For what was said by the Cynic Monimus is manifest: and manifest too is the use of what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/remember-that-all-is-opinion-for-what-was-said-by-the-cynic-monimus/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [The idea of The Boy Vs. The Cynic is the tension between the wide-eyed optimism in youthfulness where you think nothing can go wrong,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-reuben-zappin/the-idea-of-the-boy-vs-the-cynic-is-the-tension-between-the-wide-eyed/)

[John Reuben Zappin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-reuben-zappin/)

> [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/)

> [To me it seems to be important to believe people to be good even if they tend to be bad, because your own joy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/to-me-it-seems-to-be-important-to-believe-people-to-be-good-even-if/)

[Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/)

> [ \[in the\]..curious way that my idealism has been mixed with my fatalism, so that I can possess the soul of a dreamer and that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-the-curious-way-that-my-idealism-has-been-mixed-with-my-fatalism/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [The only way to do my job without optimism would be as a cynic, and that's not my nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-snow/the-only-way-to-do-my-job-without-optimism-would-be-as-a-cynic-and/)

[Jon Snow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-snow/)

[Browse all 217 Cynic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynic/)

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