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

It is cruelty to be humane to rebels, and humanity is cruelty.
[Fr., Contre les rebelles c'est cruante que read more

It is cruelty to be humane to rebels, and humanity is cruelty.
[Fr., Contre les rebelles c'est cruante que d'estre humain, et
humanite d'estre cruel.]

Cruelty is fed, not weakened, by tears

Cruelty is fed, not weakened, by tears

The difference between coarse and refined abuse is the difference between being bruised by a club and wounded by a read more

The difference between coarse and refined abuse is the difference between being bruised by a club and wounded by a poisoned arrow.

Men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty
read more

Men so noble,
However faulty, yet should find respect
For what they have been: 'tis a cruelty
To load a falling man.

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.]

All cruelty springs from hard-heartedness and weakness.

All cruelty springs from hard-heartedness and weakness.

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

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.