---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not really so hard & cynical after…"
description: "\"“I'm not really so hard & cynical after all - in fact I'm still dangerously soft.”\" — Tennessee Williams"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/tennessee-williams-745_cynical_i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all_1817926.png"
---

#  I'm not really so hard & cynical after all - in fact I'm…

![“I'm not really so hard & cynical after all - in fact I'm still dangerously soft.” quote by Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/tennessee-williams-745_cynical_i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all_1817926.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/tennessee-williams-745_cynical_i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all_1817926.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/tennessee-williams-745_cynical_i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all_1817926.png)

> ““I'm not really so hard & cynical after all - in fact I'm still dangerously soft.””

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

## About This Quote

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

Despite a hard exterior, the speaker admits a lingering softness beneath.

**In simple terms:** Hardness hides a soft core.

Key Takeaway

Recognize hidden vulnerability.

Themes

identity hardness softness

Mood

introspective confessional

Type

emotional vulnerable

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- self‑reflection
- artistic expression

Key Concepts

psychology self‑perception

Questions to Reflect On

- When do you show your soft side?
- How does vulnerability affect your relationships?

A Different Perspective

Hardness may be a defense, not truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Cynical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynical/)

## Related quotes

> [New York is hard, cynical, ruthless, even beyond other cities. From their early repression its children emerge sophisticated, both stunted and overdeveloped, perverted, premature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gruening/new-york-is-hard-cynical-ruthless-even-beyond-other-cities-from-their/)

Ernest Gruening

> [“Vhalla,” he said in a dangerously soft voice, “you may be incredibly special to me, but never lash out at me again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elise-kova/vhalla-he-said-in-a-dangerously-soft-voice-you-may-be-incredibly/)

[Elise Kova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elise-kova/)

> [I understand maybe some people are more impressionable than my hard, cynical self, but maybe they need to figure out how to be less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessa-crispin/i-understand-maybe-some-people-are-more-impressionable-than-my-hard/)

[Jessa Crispin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessa-crispin/)

> [I wish I could be hard and cynical. That I could take things slowly, not give too much of myself, because I'd be so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/i-wish-i-could-be-hard-and-cynical-that-i-could-take-things-slowly/)

[Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/)

> [I'm a very soft-spoken person. I don't throw furniture. I don't throw tantrums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-yuh-nelson/i-m-a-very-soft-spoken-person-i-don-t-throw-furniture-i-don-t-throw/)

[Jennifer Yuh Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-yuh-nelson/)

> [“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in. His voice dropped to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-most-important-thing-in-life-is-to-learn-how-to-give-out-love-and/)

[Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/)

> [If you give us soft greens and soft fairways, we're going to tear it apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-thomas/if-you-give-us-soft-greens-and-soft-fairways-we-re-going-to-tear-it/)

[Justin Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-thomas/)

> [Serbian people are not soft, and if the coach wants me to play, then I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dusan-tadic/serbian-people-are-not-soft-and-if-the-coach-wants-me-to-play-then-i/)

[Dusan Tadic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dusan-tadic/)

> [Either I'm too sensitive, or else I'm gettin' soft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/either-i-m-too-sensitive-or-else-i-m-gettin-soft/)

[Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/)

> [My hands were too soft.. I had to find some special occupation, some kind of work that would not force me to turn away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/my-hands-were-too-soft-i-had-to-find-some-special-occupation-some/)

[Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/)

> [If we dismiss childcare or work-life balance as soft, or Labour issues, then we dismiss the main concerns of millions of people, especially women.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/if-we-dismiss-childcare-or-work-life-balance-as-soft-or-labour-issues/)

[Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/)

> [My job is to catch the ball no matter how they throw it - hard, soft, medium. You've got to be able to catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-brown/my-job-is-to-catch-the-ball-no-matter-how-they-throw-it-hard-soft/)

[Antonio Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-brown/)

> [I went through a period when I was perceived as being a soft touch, somebody who moves over, who is not hungry enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-coulthard/i-went-through-a-period-when-i-was-perceived-as-being-a-soft-touch/)

[David Coulthard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-coulthard/)

> [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/)

[Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/)

## More by Tennessee Williams

> [“Nothing human disgusts me unless its unkind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/nothing-human-disgusts-me-unless-its-unkind/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [These are the intensities that one cannot live with, that he has to outgrow if he wants to survive. But who can help grieving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/these-are-the-intensities-that-one-cannot-live-with-that-he-has-to/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [“Well, you better look out. They got a new bureau in the guvamint files. It’s called U.W. Stands for Useless Wimmen. Tha’s secret plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/well-you-better-look-out-they-got-a-new-bureau-in-the-guvamint-files/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [People go to the movies instead of moving. Hollywood characters are supposed to have all the adventures for everybody in America, while everybody in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/people-go-to-the-movies-instead-of-moving-hollywood-characters-are/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [They chatter together like birds on Cypress Hill, but all they say is 'Live, live, live, live, live!' It's all they've learned, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-chatter-together-like-birds-on-cypress-hill-but-all-they-say-is/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [You take it for granted that I am in something that I want to get out of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/you-take-it-for-granted-that-i-am-in-something-that-i-want-to-get-out/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [Guessing isn't knowing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/guessing-isn-t-knowing/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [I respect a person that has had to fight and howl for his decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-respect-a-person-that-has-had-to-fight-and-howl-for-his-decency/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/life-is-all-memory-except-for-the-one-present-moment-that-goes-by-you/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [Most of the confidence which I appear to feel, especially when influenced by noon wine, is only a pretense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/most-of-the-confidence-which-i-appear-to-feel-especially-when/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [I cannot write any sort of story unless there is at least one character in it for whom I have physical desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-cannot-write-any-sort-of-story-unless-there-is-at-least-one/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [I know so well what becomes of unmarried women who aren't prepared to occupy a position. I've seen such pitiful cases in the South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-know-so-well-what-becomes-of-unmarried-women-who-aren-t-prepared-to/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [“The Jefferson is such a dignified hotel / There is no such thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/the-jefferson-is-such-a-dignified-hotel-there-is-no-such-thing/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [“A drinking man's someone who wants to forget he isn't still young and believing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/a-drinking-man-s-someone-who-wants-to-forget-he-isn-t-still-young-and/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

> [“As for me, no one will ever love me. But you could get used to me, couldn't you, Jimmy?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/as-for-me-no-one-will-ever-love-me-but-you-could-get-used-to-me/)

[Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

[Explore all 373 Tennessee Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/)

## 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

> [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": "“I'm not really so hard & cynical after all - in fact I'm still dangerously soft.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tennessee Williams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all-in-fact-i-m-still/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Cynical"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all-in-fact-i-m-still/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/tennessee-williams-745_cynical_i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all_1817926.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/tennessee-williams-745_cynical_i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all_1817926.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/tennessee-williams-745_cynical_i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all_1817926.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I'm not really so hard & cynical after all - in fact I'm still dangerously soft.” — Tennessee Williams",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tennessee Williams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I'm not really so hard &...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all-in-fact-i-m-still/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/i-m-not-really-so-hard-cynical-after-all-in-fact-i-m-still/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```