When considering a particular way of life, people sometimes have unrealistic expectations. This happens because people praise it omitting all the negative factors included in it. When any profession is praised without reservation, it may attract idealistic people but when they enter and find there people not living up to the ideals, they are so shocked that they reject the good along with the bad. Thus when someone exuberantly praises the Catholic Church by saying, “They all love each other and try their best to help others,” the listeners may not realize that those who are less than perfect have been passed over. Shocked by the bad Christians they find there they ignore even those who are doing their best to live up to the Christian ideal.

–Augustine, Commentary on Psalm 99.12

Good advice from Augustine and equally applicable to the political arena in this season of campaigning. Realistic expectations regarding the human condition is a good antidote to cynicism!