I often say cynicism is a refuge for cowards. That it is a toxic spiritual state; that is so clouds our ability to see faint possibilities and hope amidst the glaring problems, that we often wipe our hands of any engagement whatsoever. We allow our inability to do everything, to undermine our determination to do something about the problem.
— <p>Senator Cory Booker <a href=“http://freakonomics.com/podcast/cory-booker/">on Freakonomics</a>.</p><p>I dig it. I see the appeal of cynicism; at least the adolescent side of my personality does. I however reject it as a <i>modus operandi</i>, largely because it is an agent of status quo, it rejects, often out of hand, the possibility that things can be better. I’ll go one further than Sen. Booker and say cynicism is a refuge for cowards and the lazy.</p>