In our cynical times, we begin to lose that magic so early; it's nice to get it back.

Is this the fault of the staging, the ballet itself or our own more cynical time?

Such myths may turn ironic but they die hard, even when embedded in a cynical time.

It is possible, even in a cynical time, to articulate ideals.

In a cynical time, we Americans long for heroes.

Even in this cynical time such men and women must be called heroic.

But across the line there is genuine emotional curiosity, a feeling that people in less cynical times used to call empathy.

For the press in general it was a less questioning, less cynical time.

"Has it occurred to you, Giacomo, that we live in dangerous and cynical times?"

What has happened since is stunning new proof, in a cynical time, that the American dream still works.