It had taken her a good deal of time before she believed that she was worth all that fierce affection he lavished upon her. To have it stolen away unjustly was that much more cruel.

As a species, we can at times be dimwitted and cruel. But we’re also capable of learning.

Religion is a history of wickedness that has served to corrupt and brutalize humankind; and, for my part, I sincerely detest it as I detest everything that is cruel

Every Tory is a coward; for servile, slavish, self-interested fear is the foundation of Toryism; and a man under such influence, though he may be cruel, never can be brave

Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man

A government, at bottom, is nothing more than a gang of men, and as a practical matter most of them are inferior men … Government is actually the worst failure of civilized man. There has never been a really good one, and even those that are most tolerable are arbitrary, cruel, grasping and unintelligent. Indeed, it would not be far wrong to describe the best as the common enemy of all decent citizens.

In a democracy, the majority of the citizens is capable of exercising the most cruel oppressions upon the minority.

To run over better waters the little vessel of my genius now hoists her sails, as she leaves behind her a sea so cruel.

Cruel leaders are replaced only to have new leaders turn cruel.

To course across more kindly waters now my talent’s little vessel lifts her sails, leaving behind herself a sea so cruel; and what I sing will be that second kingdom, in which the human soul is cleansed of sin, becoming worthy of ascent to Heaven.

Never,” said my aunt, “be mean in anything; never be false; never be cruel. Avoid those three vices, Trot, and I can always be hopeful of you.

Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.

We are not mad. We are human. We want to love, and someone must forgive us for the paths we take to love, for the paths are many and dark, and we are ardent and cruel in our journey.

If cats looked like frogs we’d realize what nasty, cruel little bastards they are.

Just because someone’s hurt doesn’t mean you’re excused to be cruel.

April is the cruellest month.

The thinking man must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition and surrounded by a halo

A man can live and be healthy without killing animals for food; therefore, if he eats meat, he participates in taking animal life merely for the sake of his appetite.

Vanity can create a very cruel space for you if you don’t know how to manage it.