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.]

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.

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.]

In order to get power and retain it, it is necessary to love power; but love of power is not read more

In order to get power and retain it, it is necessary to love power; but love of power is not connected with goodness but with qualities that are the opposite of goodness, such as pride, cunning and cruelty

Cruelty is a part of nature, at least of human nature, but it is the one thing that seems unnatural read more

Cruelty is a part of nature, at least of human nature, but it is the one thing that seems unnatural to us.

All cruelty springs from hard-heartedness and weakness.

All cruelty springs from hard-heartedness and weakness.

Even bear-baiting was esteemed heathenish and unchristian: the
sport of it, not the inhumanity, gave offence.

Even bear-baiting was esteemed heathenish and unchristian: the
sport of it, not the inhumanity, gave offence.

And you, enchantment,
Worthy enough a herdsman--yea, him too,
That makes himself, but for our honor therein,
read more

And you, enchantment,
Worthy enough a herdsman--yea, him too,
That makes himself, but for our honor therein,
Unworthy thee-if ever henceforth thou
These rural latches to his entrance open,
Or hoop his body more with thy embraces,
I will devise a death as cruel for thee
As thou art tender to't.

I must be cruel only to be kind.

I must be cruel only to be kind.