Cruelty, very far from being a vice, is the first…
“Cruelty, very far from being a vice, is the first sentiment Nature injects in us all. The infant breaks his toy, bites his nurse's breast, strangles his canary long before he is able to reason; cruelty is stamped in animals, in whom, as I think I have said, Nature's laws are more emphatically to be read than in ourselves; cruelty exists amongst savages, so much nearer to Nature than civilized men are; absurd then to maintain cruelty is a consequence of depravity. . . . Cruelty is simply the energy in a man civilization has not yet altogether corrupted: therefore it is a virtue, not a vice.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Cruelty is portrayed as an innate, natural impulse that predates rational control, suggesting it is a fundamental human energy rather than a moral failing.
In simple terms: Cruelty is a natural, uncorrupted human drive.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and channel raw impulses constructively.
Themes
human nature
innate impulses
morality
civilization
psychology
Mood
provocative
critical
philosophical
Type
aphilosophical
controversial
When to use this quote
- childhood development
- animal behavior
- socialization
- cultural critique
Key Concepts
naturalism
ethical relativism
psychological instinct
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies transform raw impulses into positive outcomes?
- Is it ethical to view cruelty as a virtue?
A Different Perspective
Cruelty can be harmful and destructive when unchecked.