cynicism.

“Tell me about cynicism,” I said to my teacher.

“Why do you want to know?” he asked.

“I don’t want to be known as a cynic. They say cynicism is a wound, not wisdom.”

“Hmm,” he whispered. “Tell me... is the free man a cynic when he mistrusts the invitation of the warden to live in his beautiful prison? Is the warden a cynic when he mistrusts the invitation of the free man to his woods of wild creatures and flowing rivers?”

“Yes?” I answered.

“Cynicism is an excuse to resist change. Always resist building bars and never resist tearing them down. Yes, the bars do wound. As they should. And that is wisdom. Do not worry what they call you, only if you are always becoming more free.”