“… the sin which we Sicilians never forgive is simply that of ‘doing’ at all.”

The Prince is at a very specific age where he’s young enough to be physically imposing, yet old enough to not care anymore about using his energy. He knows what the direction the river is flowing so why bother fighting against it. He sees clearly what a young man can’t and he knows he can’t change anything

Is it cynical or realist?