Meaning of be cruel to be kind | Babel Free

Definitions

To act cruelly in order to achieve a positive outcome in the future.

idiomatic

Examples

“I muſt be cruell only to be kinde, / This bad beginnes, and worſe remaines behind.”

“It may perhaps be said of her, “She must be cruel to be kind.” In the discovery of anæsthesia and of various anæsthetics she may have inflicted some inconvenience, even actual pain, on a limited number of the inferior creation; but here is her return, even to inferior animals.”

“It is life, more life, and fitter life, that is her desire: the “murdering and being murdered,” the “blood and tears” are no part of her aim. But they are inevitable, though lamentable, if her aim is to be realized. She must be cruel to be kind.–a little cruel to be very kind.”

“Many farm practices may seem to the outsider to be cruel, but you have to be cruel to be kind. Many times in farming practice we are cruel but we cannot avoid being cruel. In that cruelty there is a certain kindness, and that is what we are looking for all the time.”

“Altho' I'm against cruelty to Animal life I must admit that sometimes, you have got to be cruel to be kind. I mean many animals have to be killed and destroyed for human benefit.”

CEFR level