People say cynics are just wounded romantics. Or frustrated optimists. Like most clichés, these phrases attributed to cynics are surprisingly accurate.

Cynics indeed often start off as romantics. As optimists. Then reality strikes early for them and helps them acknowledge our world isn’t really utopian. Cynics perceive the world for what it really is, beyond the façades people conjure up to conceal the hushed and ignored ugliness around the world. The sooner people become aware of reality, the sooner people become geared up to change the world for the better.

With that said, cynics don’t just sit around wondering what jerk emptied out half the glass and despise the world for allowing that. Cynics realize the glass is half empty and accept that as a fact. I’d even say that cynics are the first ones to fill the rest of the glass, while the so-called optimists dwell in idealism and enjoy the half full glass.

Our society labels cynics as pessimists: those who expect the worst out of our human nature and the society we inhibit. I beg to differ; we’re just a tad bit ahead of the game :).