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

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.]

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.

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.

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.

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.]

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.