A Man who had experienced the favours of fortune and was an Optimist, met a man who had experienced an optimist and was a Cynic. So the Cynic turned out of the road to let the Optimist roll by in his gold carriage.
"My son," said the Optimist, stopping the gold carriage, "you look as if you had not a friend in the world."
"I don't know if I have or not," replied the Cynic, "for you have the world."
What is he mocking?
Optimism is a luxury of the rich, who own the world while others step aside.
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Discussion questions
- How do the characters of the Optimist and the Cynic represent different worldviews?
- What does the story suggest about the relationship between wealth and happiness?
- In what ways can we cultivate genuine connections in our own lives?
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Read it in another language
- المتفائل والمتشائم · العربية
- Der Optimist und der Zyniker · Deutsch
- El optimista y el cínico · Español
- خوشبین و بدبین · فارسی
- L'Optimiste et le Cynique · Français
- आशावादी और निराशावादी। · हिन्दी
- L'Ottimista e il Cinico · Italiano
- O Otimista e o Cínico · Português
- Оптимист и циник · Русский
- ఆప్టిమిస్ట్ మరియు సినిక్ · తెలుగు
- Ang Optimista at ang Siniko · Tagalog
- Оптиміст і цинік · Українська
- 乐观者与愤世嫉俗者 · 中文
