The concept of what cynicism is has changed over the ages. Originally, being a cynic meant that you were involved in the ancient Greek School of Cynicism. Started in the fifth century BCE, cynicism was a philosophy based on the belief that the purpose of life was to live one of virtue in harmony with nature. It meant having a lack of concern with personal wealth, power, fame, and possessions. They felt that suffering was caused by misjudging what was truly valuable in life.

Today, cynicism has changed to be more or less a negative term. A cynic is a person that sees the glass as half empty rather than half full. Beyond that, it is a skeptical wariness based in one’s own personal experience.

You can spot a cynic by his or her use of certain key phrases and philosophical assumptions. Cynics hate “phonies," so the word comes up often. They assume that everyone is only out for themselves. Any displays of selflessness or charity are suspicious to them. The phrase, “What difference does it make, they just do what they want anyway," is along the same lines. They feel that nothing is as it should be, and there is nothing to be done about it.

Cynicism can be seen as sort of paralysis, caused by a realization that no matter how much people attempt to fix anything, it will have no effect other than frustration, exhaustion, and a sense of failure.