Prolific author and essayist Robert Anton Wilson is well-known for his contributions to psychology, philosophy, and the counterculture. His thoughts on idealism and cynicism were among his most memorable. Many people understand this to mean that while both idealistic and cynical people believe that everyone else is corrupt, they have different perspectives on themselves.

According to Wilson, cynical people frequently think that everyone is equally faulty or dishonest. They may become skeptical and pessimistic about human nature in general as a result of this viewpoint. Wilson, on the other hand, noted that people who have a more positive outlook—those we might refer to as idealists—tend to believe that everyone is equally flawed, with the exception of themselves. While they are critical of others, they have a forgiving perspective on their own deeds and intentions.

Imagine this idea as two glasses of water that are placed in two different rooms, one of which is well-lit and the other dark. Because they are unable to see well, the person in the dark room perceives all of the water as murky, symbolizing cynicism in which everything appears faulty or corrupt. A person in a well-lit room, on the other hand, might only perceive their own glass of water as clear while perceiving the glasses of others as murky. This represents an idealistic perspective in which one only believes in one's own purity.

A more balanced approach to comprehending human nature is encouraged by Robert Anton Wilson's insight, which challenges us to consider our prejudices and how we view ourselves in comparison to others.