I'm an idealist. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.

Carl Sandburg (1878 - 1967), Incidentals (1907)

Idealism is what precedes experience; cynicism is what follows.

David T. Wolf (1943 - )

An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.

H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)

An idealist is a person who helps other people to be prosperous.

Henry Ford¹ (1863 - 1947)

When they come downstairs from their Ivory Towers, Idealists are very apt to walk straight into the gutter².

Logan Pearsall Smith (1865 - 1946), Afterthoughts (1931) "Other People"

Cynics regarded everybody as equally corrupt³... Idealists regarded everybody as equally corrupt, except themselves.

Robert Anton Wilson