Cynicism vs Depression

The other day, I was informed by someone of late middle age that I was too cynical for my young years. If I recall correctly, I had just said something rather dry about the need for people to want to do something in order to do well at it. I have also been studying the life of Mark Twain, a man whose cynicism shines heavily through his work, whom people have claimed was depressed.

As a cynic who was once depressed, I can tell you, they are not the same thing. I have a very cynical view of life, regarding people as creatures of selfishness and a hatred for all things foreign. But I am not depressed. Being depressed is allowing the massive amounts of greed and prejudice in the world to bring you down; I try to press on with my life in spite of it.

And, hey, I get by.