A brief guide to overcoming cynicism (including our own)
The weight of the news
Every morning, we’re bombarded by an avalanche of news: wars, injustices, tyranny, climate disasters. So we drink our coffee whilst grumbling about these grim headlines, then carry on with our days as if nothing had happened. Because we have to. On the underground, I pass people with glum expressions, absorbed by the blue glow of their screens. A few diehards are fighting back, book in hand.
The years go by, and with them comes the growing impression that everything is getting worse. What’s the point of believing in anything? We might as well accept it and stop expecting anything, shouldn’t we? Optimism is, at best, a luxury; at worst, naivety, whilst cynicism is so tempting and, above all, so easy to adopt. You see, that’s what cynicism is: a logical response, a suit of armour that, admittedly, crushes hope, but which has the good sense to protect us from disappointment. We drift into it gradually, arms and hearts hanging limply, without even realising it. Already present in our speech, our media and our interactions, cynicism traps us in a disillusioned view of the world. But is this really a stance of lucidity?
Between the illusion of clairvoyance and a mental trap
Cynicism originated in ancient Greece with Diogenes of Sinope, who denounced social hypocrisy and advocated a life that broke with convention. Diogenes, a fascinating historical figure, lived in a barrel (or a jar – no one really knows) and would walk about in broad daylight carrying a lantern, saying: “I am looking for a human”, thereby exposing people’s insincerity. When Alexander the Great asked him what he desired, he replied: “Get out of my sunlight”, thereby displaying his profound contempt for power. Contemporary cynicism, influenced by Nietzsche, is more radical. It no longer merely criticises norms; it also rejects the very idea of a possible or societal ideal.
Today, cynicism is often the result of personal experiences marked by disappointment, betrayal or injustice. Studies show that individuals who have experienced repeated failures or trauma tend to adopt a cynical stance as a defence mechanism. It is, then, a way of avoiding the pain of further disillusionment: “If I expect nothing from others, I cannot be disappointed.” Cynicism can, in fact, begin as early as childhood: when a child grows up in an environment where mistrust is omnipresent, where promises are rarely kept and where vulnerability is perceived as a weakness, they learn to view the world with suspicion.
Modern cynicism manifests itself as absolute mistrust of human intentions. It takes the form of blunt, contemptuous remarks such as: “But I don’t care about the environment! I owe nothing to future generations!”, “Women? But let’s stop making them believe they’re capable of leading anything! Their place is in the home, and the cleverest among them recognise that!” or even “If the truth paid as well as a lie, we’d defend it more often.” By refusing any discussion, cynics cloak themselves in an air of intellectual superiority, convinced they will never again be taken in. But this rejection of social bonds and ideals leads to a dead end. It is not lucidity; it is an internalised defeat.
Cynicism spreads like a pandemic, peddling hollow ideas with the world’s easiest selling point: suspicion. To become cynical is to no longer truly trust anything; it is to have succumbed to that which deceives us. Gradually, we detach ourselves from what is meaningful and sacred – such as the beauty of the world – and attach less and less importance to the bonds that enable us to form a society. Simply because it is easier: we cling to the most reassuring shortcuts, even if they do not stand up to scrutiny.
Cynicism is a public danger
Fortunately, numerous studies support my argument: chronic cynicism is linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. By seeing only the worst in other people and in the world, we end up harbouring a negative view of everything, including life itself, which profoundly affects our mental wellbeing. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease due to constant stress. When we constantly anticipate deception or failure, our bodies react as if they were in a state of constant threat. A cynical person develops excessive mistrust of others, which considerably diminishes the quality of their relationships and their ability to form deep bonds. In the workplace, cynicism is even linked to a decline in motivation and professional performance. It isolates people, cuts them off from opportunities and traps them in a vicious circle of bitterness and expecting the worst.
Ironically, cynicism is often the reaction sought by those with malicious intent. Demagogues, manipulators and those seeking to maintain their power know that nothing serves them better than resignation and widespread mistrust. The more citizens are convinced that everything is rigged, the less they seek to get involved – not only in civic life but even less so in bringing about genuine change.
Scepticism: the optimistic alternative
Cynicism imprisons us, whilst scepticism sets us free. Unlike cynics, who operate on the assumption that all human motivations are fundamentally corrupt, sceptics doubt in a methodical and rational manner. Scepticism involves suspending judgement until conclusive evidence allows a matter to be settled.
It has its origins in ancient Greek philosophy with Pyrrho of Elis, who advocated epoché, that is, the suspension of judgement. Today, scepticism manifests itself as a demand for evidence and a rational questioning of assertions. This is, in particular, how the scientific method operates. A sceptic can therefore be optimistic about the advancement of knowledge and the possibility of improving the world through reason and experimentation. To be a sceptic, one must be an optimist: as long as one seeks progress, one still believes in the future.
The opposite of cynicism is connection
Cynicism traps us in a negative view of the world, whereas connection with others is what enables us to break free from it. The opposite of cynicism is connection. Resilience – that ability to bounce back after hardship – is never built in isolation, but through sharing and support. Psychological research shows that people with a strong social network are better protected against depression and stress. When we engage with the world, we realise that the women and men who inhabit it are not always deceitful or manipulative. They are often far more kind-hearted than we think.
Faced with an uncertain world, we have two choices: to give in to cynicism, which traps us in bitterness and inaction, or to adopt a committed realism, which rejects fatalism and seeks to understand so that we may act more effectively. It takes courage to shake off our illusions: a cynical outlook changes nothing, whilst a hopeful outlook can transform everything.
I wish you as much scepticism as optimism.
Warm regards,
Inès Leonarduzzi.
Inès Leonarduzzi is a socio-environmentalist. A few years ago, she founded an NGO that advocates for and promotes digital technology that consumes less energy and is kinder to our brains. She is the author of the essay *Réparer le futur* (Published by Observatoire, 2021) and gives talks in France and abroad on a variety of topics, ranging from the environment to culture, including our new ways of living (together). She occasionally writes poetry. Every month throughout 2025, she invites readers to come together on Aroma-Zone.com to explore the theme of joy, so that we may collectively discover the possibilities for a daily life which, despite its ups and downs, is worth living.
