--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can…" description: "\"Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.\" — Leo Buscaglia" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/leo-buscaglia-1308_cruel_only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-o_629412.png" --- # Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected… ![“Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.” quote by Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/leo-buscaglia-1308_cruel_only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-o_629412.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/leo-buscaglia-1308_cruel_only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-o_629412.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/leo-buscaglia-1308_cruel_only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-o_629412.png) > “Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.” [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True cruelty stems from weakness; genuine gentleness is a sign of inner strength. **In simple terms:** Only the weak are cruel; strength shows gentleness. Key Takeaway Practice kindness as a sign of strength. Themes strength gentleness morality Mood inspirational encouraging Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - leadership training - parenting - conflict resolution Key Concepts inner resilience ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - How can you demonstrate strength through kindness? - What actions embody gentle power? A Different Perspective Gentleness can be mistaken for weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gentleness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleness/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) ## Related quotes > [“It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-roskin/it-is-the-weak-who-are-cruel-gentleness-can-only-be-expected-from-the/) Leo Roskin > [I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cruel-and-that-gentleness-is-to/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [The weak are cruel. The strong have no need to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/the-weak-are-cruel-the-strong-have-no-need-to-be/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [It's terrible when the weak are also cruel for then we are defenseless against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-field/it-s-terrible-when-the-weak-are-also-cruel-for-then-we-are/) [Rachel Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-field/) > [“He was such an enigma, really - fierce and strong and weak and cruel. An incomparable friend and a son of a bitch. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-mclain/he-was-such-an-enigma-really-fierce-and-strong-and-weak-and-cruel-an/) [Paula McLain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-mclain/) > [If you're an advocate of gentleness, you're simplistic and naive. If you're an advocate of despair and hate, you're sophisticated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/if-you-re-an-advocate-of-gentleness-you-re-simplistic-and-naive-if/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [I started understanding that my strength is my gentleness. A leader isn't a dictator, a leader is a servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/i-started-understanding-that-my-strength-is-my-gentleness-a-leader/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [Yet, it had been Dimitri’s gentleness and thoughtfulness mixed with that deadliness that made him so wonderful. The same hands that wielded stakes with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/yet-it-had-been-dimitri-s-gentleness-and-thoughtfulness-mixed-with/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [In the end we are always rewarded for our good will, our patience, fair-mindedness, and gentleness with what is strange.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/in-the-end-we-are-always-rewarded-for-our-good-will-our-patience-fair/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Every man has his price. This is not true. But for every man there exists a bait which he cannot resist swallowing. To win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/every-man-has-his-price-this-is-not-true-but-for-every-man-there/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“Each of us is the ultimate expert on the gentleness and understanding we deserve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-sar-aira/each-of-us-is-the-ultimate-expert-on-the-gentleness-and-understanding/) [César Aira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-sar-aira/) > [“Whatever you do, be gentle. People might have forgiven your harsh words but they may never forget how it stabbed their heart at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/whatever-you-do-be-gentle-people-might-have-forgiven-your-harsh-words/) [Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/) > [“I’m a man of stone - and my hands are not soft enough to brush away, each stray wisp of hair”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-j-geddes/i-m-a-man-of-stone-and-my-hands-are-not-soft-enough-to-brush-away/) [john j geddes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-j-geddes/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) ## More by Leo Buscaglia > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Relish love in your old age! Aged love is like aged wine; it becomes more satisfying, more refreshing, more valuable, more appreciated and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/relish-love-in-your-old-age-aged-love-is-like-aged-wine-it-becomes/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Life is a great and wondrous mystery, and the only thing we know that we have for sure is what is right here right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/life-is-a-great-and-wondrous-mystery-and-the-only-thing-we-know-that/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love creates an "us" without destroying the "me".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-creates-an-us-without-destroying-the-me/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love always creates, it never destroys. In this lie's man's only promise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-always-creates-it-never-destroys-in-this-lie-s-man-s-only-promise/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/life-lived-for-tomorrow-will-always-be-just-a-day-away-from-being/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Love revels in and grows in the moment and the joy of the moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/love-revels-in-and-grows-in-the-moment-and-the-joy-of-the-moment/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [In life and in love, there is only that moment, the NOW. The only reality we know is what we experience this very second.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/in-life-and-in-love-there-is-only-that-moment-the-now-the-only/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Biologically and physiologically, we are not equal. Some of us learn better at different times of day. Some learn best visually, some auditorially, some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/biologically-and-physiologically-we-are-not-equal-some-of-us-learn/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [There is nothing wrong with making mistakes and not having all the answers, so long as we are willing to admit this and strive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-making-mistakes-and-not-having-all-the/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Food is celebratory. People who don't cook don't know how much fun they're missing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/food-is-celebratory-people-who-don-t-cook-don-t-know-how-much-fun/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Based on a string of bad breakups, I was forced to examine my choice of partners. Surely, that must have abolished me from any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/based-on-a-string-of-bad-breakups-i-was-forced-to-examine-my-choice/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/everybody-needs-a-hug-it-changes-your-metabolism/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [Hugs make you feel psychologically more secure and together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/hugs-make-you-feel-psychologically-more-secure-and-together/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [I will love you if you are stupid, if you slip and fall on your face, if you do the wrong thing, if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/i-will-love-you-if-you-are-stupid-if-you-slip-and-fall-on-your-face/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) [Explore all 258 Leo Buscaglia quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) ## More Cruel quotes > [“History has a cruel way of disappointing optimists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-thompson/history-has-a-cruel-way-of-disappointing-optimists/) Keith Thompson > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [“Don't be so cruel to me. Don't promise me anything. I've got everything that i need. I need love in a good way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tegan-quin/don-t-be-so-cruel-to-me-don-t-promise-me-anything-i-ve-got-everything/) [Tegan Quin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tegan-quin/) > [Pity is cruel. Pity destroys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-greene/pity-is-cruel-pity-destroys/) [Graham Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-greene/) > [“Even the cruel feel pain. And even the cruel can change. I hope this changes him. He could do so much, if only he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brown/even-the-cruel-feel-pain-and-even-the-cruel-can-change-i-hope-this/) [Pierce Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brown/) > [You must learn that to endure cruelty is to become cruel yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bleach/you-must-learn-that-to-endure-cruelty-is-to-become-cruel-yourself/) [Bleach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bleach/) > [“my power is as cruel a joke as it can get? That’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-d-anderson/my-power-is-as-cruel-a-joke-as-it-can-get-that-s/) Katie D. Anderson > [I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-must-be-cruel-only-to-be-kind-thus-bad-begins-and-worse-remains/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Huamns, uregulated, are cruel and capricious; violet and selfish; miserable and quarrelsome. It is only after their instincts and basic emotions have been controlled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/huamns-uregulated-are-cruel-and-capricious-violet-and-selfish/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“You would think those who have endured unkindness would be kinder as a result, intent on sparing others the awful suffering they abhorred firsthand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/you-would-think-those-who-have-endured-unkindness-would-be-kinder-as/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [how cruel, your veins are full of ice-water and mine are boiling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/how-cruel-your-veins-are-full-of-ice-water-and-mine-are-boiling/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [There is no kindness more cruel than the kindness which consigns another person to their sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-no-kindness-more-cruel-than-the-kindness-which-consigns/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Vanity can create a very cruel space for you if you don't know how to manage it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/vanity-can-create-a-very-cruel-space-for-you-if-you-don-t-know-how-to/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) > [Life is cruel and we do terrible things to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-pym/life-is-cruel-and-we-do-terrible-things-to-each-other/) [Barbara Pym](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-pym/) > [What people loathe the most is to be orphaned, desolate, unworthy. But this is what princes and kings call themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/what-people-loathe-the-most-is-to-be-orphaned-desolate-unworthy-but/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) Browse all 1,069 Cruel quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Buscaglia" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-only-be-expected-from-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cruel" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-only-be-expected-from-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/leo-buscaglia-1308_cruel_only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-o_629412.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/leo-buscaglia-1308_cruel_only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-o_629412.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/leo-buscaglia-1308_cruel_only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-o_629412.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.” — Leo Buscaglia", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leo Buscaglia", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-only-be-expected-from-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-only-be-expected-from-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```