Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Cynicism prevents creation; cynics never build something lasting.
In plain terms
Intellectuals complain and never build anything important.
What can you take from it?
Constructive action is better than critical cynicism.

Where it applies

  • debating philosophy
  • leadership
  • community building

Putting it to work

  • focusing on solutions
  • building community

Questions to consider

  • Is criticism useful?
  • How do you balance critique and creation?

Another view

It dismisses critical thought which is often necessary for improvement.

More from Henry Kissinger

  1. In the process we lost sight of one of the cardinal maxims of guerrilla war: the guerrilla wins if he does not lose. The conventional army loses if it does not…

    Permalink to quote #2
  2. Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac.

    Permalink to quote #4
  3. A massive bombing campaign in Cambodia. Anything that flies on anything that moves. [sic]

    Permalink to quote #1

Related quotes

  1. Criticize by creating

    Michelangelo BuonarrotiMichelangelo Buonarroti quote #13
  2. The average English critic is a don manque, hopelessly parochial when not exaggeratedly teutonophile, over whose desk must surely hang the motto (presumably in…

    Constant LambertConstant Lambert quote #1
  3. The European boys have small ideas but they sure know how to dress 'em up.

    George GershwinGeorge Gershwin quote #1