Essay, Paragraph, Speech on “A Cynic is one who Knows the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing” Long, Short Essay for School, College Students, essay for Class 8, 9, 10, 12 and Competitive Exams

A Cynic is one who Knows the Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing

In ancient Greece there was a school of austere philosophers who taught a strict and stern 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 unchastity; 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 sceptic; 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 enough. 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 or 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, justice, mercy, kindness, love, compassion, honour, courage and heroism are beyond price. These are treasures which the jewel and gold cannot equal. The cynic knows nothing of the value of these treasures, for he does not believe in them.