In ancient Greece there
was a school of austere philosophers who taught a strict and stem morality and
banned all pleasure as wicked. The light-hearted Athenians nicknamed them
“Cynics”, or snarling dogs; for the Greek word “cynic” means “dog-like”.
The most noted Cynic
philosopher was Diogenes, who showed his contempt of comfort by living in a
tub; and who walked over Plato’s rich carpets with muddy feet, saying. “Thus I
trample on your pride, Plato”.
A cynic is a sneered.
The words sneer and snarl are connected. When a dog snarls, it is clearing its
teeth to bite; and when a man sneers, he is preparing to make a biting remark.
A cynic sneers at what others hold sacred. Properly, a cynic is one who does
not believe in the existence of disinterested goodness. As W.H. Beecher said,
“A cynic is one who never sees a good quality in a man. And who never fails to
see a bad one”. He believes that every human action and profession springs from
a low motive. A man is honest. He says only because he finds honesty pays; a.
woman is chaste merely because she is afraid of the consequences of unchastely;
a rich man gives to the poor simply to get a name for generosity; and
gratitude, according to the cynic, is just “a lively expectation of favours to
come”. He is a septic; he says, “Believe only half of what you see, and nothing
that you hear”.
Sir Robert Walpole’s
cynical remark, “Every man has his price”, well sums up the creed of the cynic.
He meant that every man could be bribed if you offered a bribe big emote. A man,
who would scornfully reject Rs. 100, would fall for a bribe of Rs. 1000. Or, if
money were not his object, an offer of high place or great power
Fame would buy his vote. The
cynic knows the price of everything. And every person. That is, he knows how
much will buy the thing or the man: or he thinks he does. But of the value of
the things of the greatest value in life he knows nothing. Qualities such as
honesty, juice. mercy, kindness, love, compassion, honour, courage and heroism
are beyond price. Thaws are treasures which the jewel and old cannot equal. The
cynic knows nothing of the value of these measures, for he does not believe in
them.