--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Preserve the part of you that's still…" description: "\"“Preserve the part of you that's still human. Avoid falling into ecstatic raptures and trying to impose the Light on people when they don't want it. Av..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/sergei-lukyanenko-4246_cynical_preserve-the-part-of-you-that-s-still-hu_2952175.png" --- # Preserve the part of you that's still human. Avoid falling… ![“Preserve the part of you that's still human. Avoid falling into ecstatic raptures and trying to impose the Light on people when they don't want it. Avoid relapsing into contemptuous cynicism and imagining that you are pure and perfect. That's the hardest thing of all--never to become cynical…” quote by Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/sergei-lukyanenko-4246_cynical_preserve-the-part-of-you-that-s-still-hu_2952175.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/sergei-lukyanenko-4246_cynical_preserve-the-part-of-you-that-s-still-hu_2952175.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b4/sergei-lukyanenko-4246_cynical_preserve-the-part-of-you-that-s-still-hu_2952175.png) > ““Preserve the part of you that's still human. Avoid falling into ecstatic raptures and trying to impose the Light on people when they don't want it. Avoid relapsing into contemptuous cynicism and imagining that you are pure and perfect. That's the hardest thing of all--never to become cynical, never to lose faith, never to become indifferent. -Gesar”” [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintain humanity, avoid ecstasy‑driven arrogance, and resist cynicism, contempt, and indifference. **In simple terms:** Stay human, avoid arrogance and cynicism. Key Takeaway Cultivate humility and empathy. Themes ethics humanity spirituality Mood reflective serious Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - community service - mental health practice Key Concepts humility self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - What practices keep you grounded? - How do you confront contempt? A Different Perspective Balancing idealism with realism is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) [Cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism/) [Cynicism Imagining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynicism-imagining-4454885/) [Hardest thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest-thing/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Preserve Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preserve-human-4195873/) [Thing Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-cynical-1276837/) ## Related quotes > [That's the hardest thing of all--never to become cynical, never to lose faith, never to become indifferent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/that-s-the-hardest-thing-of-all-never-to-become-cynical-never-to-lose/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [To preserve the human race, it is now necessary to reorganize society. To this end, an Authority must be created with the power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/to-preserve-the-human-race-it-is-now-necessary-to-reorganize-society/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [A something-for-nothing culture does no one any favours. It makes those who are doing the right thing cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-grayling/a-something-for-nothing-culture-does-no-one-any-favours-it-makes/) [Chris Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-grayling/) > [Nothing ever guarantees you anything-that's my rule. My other rule is never believe anything that anyone tells you, and then you'll never be fooled.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hyde-pierce/nothing-ever-guarantees-you-anything-that-s-my-rule-my-other-rule-is/) [David Hyde Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hyde-pierce/) > [A superhero is someone who, at some point or in some way, inspires hope or is the enemy of cynicism. Even if you bog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/a-superhero-is-someone-who-at-some-point-or-in-some-way-inspires-hope/) [Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/) > [Our line of work is very cynical, and a lot of it is driven by cynicism, cruelty, and meanness. It's easier to believe the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-michaels/our-line-of-work-is-very-cynical-and-a-lot-of-it-is-driven-by/) [Shawn Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-michaels/) > [“I watched him, sardonic, cynical. A great poet, truly, yet unkind. The gifts of our nature seem not to modify the manner of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/i-watched-him-sardonic-cynical-a-great-poet-truly-yet-unkind-the/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I’m actually trying to make sense of the world. There’s nothing cynical or absurd in what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yue-minjun/i-m-actually-trying-to-make-sense-of-the-world-there-s-nothing/) [Yue Minjun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yue-minjun/) > [“I know life is not rainbows and butterflies, but I’d rather die delusional than being a mature cynic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhaidev/i-know-life-is-not-rainbows-and-butterflies-but-i-d-rather-die/) [Abhaidev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhaidev/) > [For me, a really radical position for journalism to take is to stop being cynical. Cynicism is what passes for insight among the mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-klein/for-me-a-really-radical-position-for-journalism-to-take-is-to-stop/) [Joe Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-klein/) > [All I ask is one thing, and I’m asking this particularly of young people: please don’t be cynical. I hate cynicism, for the record,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/all-i-ask-is-one-thing-and-i-m-asking-this-particularly-of-young/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [The opposite of creativity is cynicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esa-saarinen/the-opposite-of-creativity-is-cynicism/) [Esa Saarinen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esa-saarinen/) > [“Home? What is home? Home is where a house is that you come back to when the rainy season is about to begin, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornell-woolrich/home-what-is-home-home-is-where-a-house-is-that-you-come-back-to-when/) [Cornell Woolrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornell-woolrich/) > [“I'm getting old, thought Eileen Calder. Old and worn out and cynical. And being cynical is a lot worse than being old or worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sheffield/i-m-getting-old-thought-eileen-calder-old-and-worn-out-and-cynical/) [Charles Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sheffield/) > [“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/) ## More by Sergei Lukyanenko > [Why was is that the Light acted through lies, and the Darkness acted though the truth? Why was is that our truth proved powerless,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/why-was-is-that-the-light-acted-through-lies-and-the-darkness-acted/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [“Isn’t that always the way! Just when you really want to know if you did the right thing or not. But no one will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/isn-t-that-always-the-way-just-when-you-really-want-to-know-if-you/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [What if it turns out there really are witches and vampires and werewolves living right here alongside us? After all, what better disguise could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/what-if-it-turns-out-there-really-are-witches-and-vampires-and/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Ill-considered but well-intentioned actions do more good that actions that are well-considered but cruel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/ill-considered-but-well-intentioned-actions-do-more-good-that-actions/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [That's the way it goes sometimes: in order to help your friends, first you have to help your enemy. Better get used to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/that-s-the-way-it-goes-sometimes-in-order-to-help-your-friends-first/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [When there are strange things going on all around, every coincidence should be considered very carefully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/when-there-are-strange-things-going-on-all-around-every-coincidence/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Indeed, being a beginner is very difficult right now. Book publishers are in a crisis, sales are dwindling, and publishing houses are losing money,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/indeed-being-a-beginner-is-very-difficult-right-now-book-publishers/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [“I can't see the line between deliberate intention and coincidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/i-can-t-see-the-line-between-deliberate-intention-and-coincidence/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [“Konjak, vino - tako se opija srce.“ „ A votka, za šta je ona?“ „Za dušu. Ako je bol neutoljiv.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/konjak-vino-tako-se-opija-srce-a-votka-za-ta-je-ona-za-du-u-ako-je/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [We're not given the chance to choose absolute truth. Truth's always two-faced. The only thing we have is the right to reject the lie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/we-re-not-given-the-chance-to-choose-absolute-truth-truth-s-always/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [“People don't usually think about the meaning of the words they say. It seems to them that words convey truth. That when someone hears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/people-don-t-usually-think-about-the-meaning-of-the-words-they-say-it/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Generally speaking, we can and should say everything. We just have to choose the right time, otherwise the truth can be worse than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/generally-speaking-we-can-and-should-say-everything-we-just-have-to/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Loneliness, dejection, the contempt or pity of people around you--these are unpleasant feelings. But they are precisely the things that produce genuine Dark Ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/loneliness-dejection-the-contempt-or-pity-of-people-around-you-these/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [Of course we got drunk!" Semyon said. "It's okay to get drunk, Anton. If you need to real bad. Only you have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/of-course-we-got-drunk-semyon-said-it-s-okay-to-get-drunk-anton-if/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) > [“And no doubt you’re quite happy for her to slave away at the cooker, wash the nappies, get no sleep for nights on end”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lukyanenko/and-no-doubt-you-re-quite-happy-for-her-to-slave-away-at-the-cooker/) [Sergei Lukyanenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) [Explore all 105 Sergei Lukyanenko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lukyanenko/) ## More Cynical quotes > [Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, people can become discouraged and cynical. But lives can also be mended. Put back together well, they won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-goodier/broken-by-hardships-disappointments-and-tragedy-people-can-become/) [Steve Goodier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-goodier/) > [“Writers whose thoughts are expressed with clarity and precision are assumed by readers to be superficial. Where the meaning is obscured, then readers give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/writers-whose-thoughts-are-expressed-with-clarity-and-precision-are/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I would say most comedians have a very cynical worldview of the way the world can work. It's almost like if you didn't, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-quinn/i-would-say-most-comedians-have-a-very-cynical-worldview-of-the-way/) [Colin Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-quinn/) > [Sure, I’m dramatic and sloppily semi-cynical and semi-sentimental. But, in leisure years I could grow and choose my way. Now I am living on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-plath/sure-i-m-dramatic-and-sloppily-semi-cynical-and-semi-sentimental-but/) [Sylvia Plath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-plath/) > [We're so immaturely cynical as a culture. We're not wise enough to look at an institution like marriage and to really things about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peterson/we-re-so-immaturely-cynical-as-a-culture-we-re-not-wise-enough-to/) [Jordan Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peterson/) > [I'm not cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/i-m-not-cynical/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [A well governed people are generally a people who do not think much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-siegfried/a-well-governed-people-are-generally-a-people-who-do-not-think-much/) [Andre Siegfried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-siegfried/) > [I love writers who are insightful enough to be cynical but choose not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-love-writers-who-are-insightful-enough-to-be-cynical-but-choose-not/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [It is a very cynical, skeptical, foolish person that suggests Israel does not need a peace process to have a growing economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-quest/it-is-a-very-cynical-skeptical-foolish-person-that-suggests-israel/) [Richard Quest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-quest/) > [Songwriters might write cynical, world-wise lyrics and constantly talk about money, but most of us are downright naive when it comes to business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-nelson/songwriters-might-write-cynical-world-wise-lyrics-and-constantly-talk/) [Willie Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-nelson/) > [No one more cynical than an idealist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/no-one-more-cynical-than-an-idealist/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [I've actually always wanted to write like a one-person show that was sort of a romantic comedy - a show that was kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/i-ve-actually-always-wanted-to-write-like-a-one-person-show-that-was/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [“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/) > [As the rain falls and the sun shines, they grow, grow, grow; minds so open, they go through life aware and accepting, seeing light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/as-the-rain-falls-and-the-sun-shines-they-grow-grow-grow-minds-so/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [One of the weirdest things that happened to artists and art criticism was this moment when everyone got cynical and stopped believing in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/one-of-the-weirdest-things-that-happened-to-artists-and-art-criticism/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) [Browse all 968 Cynical quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Preserve the part of you that's still human. 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