Oscar Wilde’s definition of a cynic still cuts like a knife:
“What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
He wrote that over a century ago — and it’s even truer today.
1. Price Without Perspective
Cynics measure life in dollars and cents. They can tell you the market value of a diamond but not the meaning behind a proposal. They know what it costs to raise a child but not what a father’s presence is worth.
2. Knowledge Without Wisdom
The cynic is clever but shallow.
They know the numbers, the stats, the angles — but miss the soul of the thing. They see marriage as a financial risk, not a lifelong partnership. They see generosity as a bad investment, not an act of character.
3. Safety Over Significance
Cynicism masquerades as intelligence. “I’m just being realistic,” the cynic says — but what they really mean is “I’m too afraid to care deeply.” Price feels safe because it’s objective.
Value demands vulnerability.
4. The Cost of Living Without Value
The bitter irony?
A life lived counting prices but ignoring value ends up bankrupt — emotionally, relationally, even spiritually. You may “win” by avoiding loss, but you lose the joy of meaning.
Takeaway
Oscar Wilde’s jab isn’t just about money — it’s about how we see the world.
Knowing the price of everything makes you a consumer.
Knowing the value of things makes you fully alive.
🔥 Closer
Most people today are proud cynics — and it shows.
They know the price of a wedding but not the value of a promise, the price of therapy but not the value of forgiveness, the price of love but not the cost of being loveless.
I pity the cynical…
-The Rational Ram
The Rational Ram 