I must be cruel only to be kind.

I must be cruel only to be kind.

Men are cruel, but Man is kind.

Men are cruel, but Man is kind.

He rejoices to have made his way by ruin of others.
[Lat., Gaudensque viam fecisse ruina.]

He rejoices to have made his way by ruin of others.
[Lat., Gaudensque viam fecisse ruina.]

It is not linen you're wearing out,
But human creatures' lives.

It is not linen you're wearing out,
But human creatures' lives.

I would love to see the grimace he [Marquis de Cinq-Mars] is now
making on the scaffold.
[Fr., read more

I would love to see the grimace he [Marquis de Cinq-Mars] is now
making on the scaffold.
[Fr., Je voudrais bien voir la grimace qu'il fait a cette heure
sur cet echafaud.]

Lady, you are the cruell'st she alive
If you will these graces to the grave,
And leave read more

Lady, you are the cruell'st she alive
If you will these graces to the grave,
And leave the world no copy.

Cruelty and fear shake hands together

Cruelty and fear shake hands together

Cruelty, like every other vice, requires no motive outside of itself; it only requires opportunity

Cruelty, like every other vice, requires no motive outside of itself; it only requires opportunity

If it were absolutely necessary to choose, I would rather be guilty of an immoral act than of a cruel read more

If it were absolutely necessary to choose, I would rather be guilty of an immoral act than of a cruel one.