--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I learned that it is the weak who are…" description: "\"I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.\" — Leo Rosten" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/leo-rosten-9943_expected_i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cr_3218837.jpg" --- # I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that… ![“I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.” quote by Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/leo-rosten-9943_expected_i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cr_3218837.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/leo-rosten-9943_expected_i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cr_3218837.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/leo-rosten-9943_expected_i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cr_3218837.jpg) > “I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.” [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests that cruelty stems from weakness, while true gentleness is a sign of strength. **In simple terms:** Weakness breeds cruelty; strength shows gentleness. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner strength. Themes strength gentleness human nature Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - parenting - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral psychology power dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to be strong and gentle? - How can we encourage gentleness without appearing weak? A Different Perspective Gentleness can be mistaken for weakness, leading to exploitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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 > [Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/only-the-weak-are-cruel-gentleness-can-only-be-expected-from-the/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [“Everything we do is right, even when it's wrong. There's always a lesson to be learned. From being weak to being strong”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoana-dianika/everything-we-do-is-right-even-when-it-s-wrong-there-s-always-a/) [Yoana Dianika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoana-dianika/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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 Rosten > [Truth is stranger than fiction; fiction has to make sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/truth-is-stranger-than-fiction-fiction-has-to-make-sense/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [There was no answer, no solution, no sop, no deliverance. What, then, did I do? I read faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/there-was-no-answer-no-solution-no-sop-no-deliverance-what-then-did-i/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [People say: idle curiosity. The one thing that curiosity cannot be is idle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/people-say-idle-curiosity-the-one-thing-that-curiosity-cannot-be-is/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Everyone, in some small sacred sanctuary of the self, is nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/everyone-in-some-small-sacred-sanctuary-of-the-self-is-nuts/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [ What's green, hangs on a wall and whistles? \[A Herring\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/what-s-green-hangs-on-a-wall-and-whistles-a-herring/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Dogs are getting bigger, according to a leading dog manufacturer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/dogs-are-getting-bigger-according-to-a-leading-dog-manufacturer/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Acting is a form of deception, and actors can mesmerize themselves almost as easily as an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/acting-is-a-form-of-deception-and-actors-can-mesmerize-themselves/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Her cooking suggested she had attended the Cordon Noir.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/her-cooking-suggested-she-had-attended-the-cordon-noir/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [“The purpose of life is not to be happy—but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-purpose-of-life-is-not-to-be-happy-but-to-matter-to-be-productive/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [For some not to be martyrs is martyrdom indeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/for-some-not-to-be-martyrs-is-martyrdom-indeed/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [“Anybody who hates dogs and babies can't be all bad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/anybody-who-hates-dogs-and-babies-can-t-be-all-bad/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [O, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/o-to-be-sure-we-laugh-less-and-play-less-and-wear-uncomfortable/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [Where was it ever promised us that life on this earth can ever be easy, free from conflict and uncertainty, devoid of anguish and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/where-was-it-ever-promised-us-that-life-on-this-earth-can-ever-be/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [First-rate people hire first-rate people; second-rate people hire third-rate people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/first-rate-people-hire-first-rate-people-second-rate-people-hire/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) > [The purpose of life is not to be happy, the purpose of life is to matter..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/the-purpose-of-life-is-not-to-be-happy-the-purpose-of-life-is-to/) [Leo Rosten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) [Explore all 69 Leo Rosten quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/) ## More Expected quotes > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. The change in stamp prices is expected to affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-federal-court-has-ruled-that-the-u-s-postal-service-must-reduce-its/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-propitious-smiles-of-heaven-can-never-be-expected-on-a-nation/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [I think we were raised in a nice Texas Jewish family where education was the most important thing, and close behind that was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-loeb/i-think-we-were-raised-in-a-nice-texas-jewish-family-where-education/) [Lisa Loeb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-loeb/) > [I am ever mindful of the legacy of my grandfather, the founder of this Kingdom, who had said to me that he perceived his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-hussein-i/i-am-ever-mindful-of-the-legacy-of-my-grandfather-the-founder-of-this/) [King Hussein I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-hussein-i/) > [I have never judged myself by other people’s standards. I have always expected a great deal of myself, and if I fail, I fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-loren/i-have-never-judged-myself-by-other-people-s-standards-i-have-always/) [Sophia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-loren/) > [But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards. The most you and Malfoy’ll be able to do is send sparks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-people-only-die-in-proper-duels-you-know-with-real-wizards-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True love does not consist in trying to correct others, but in feeling joy that things are better than we expected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/true-love-does-not-consist-in-trying-to-correct-others-but-in-feeling/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Playing in the NFL, you're expected to perform and perform well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jones/playing-in-the-nfl-you-re-expected-to-perform-and-perform-well/) [Daniel Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jones/) > [Fransisco, you're some kind of very high nobility, aren't you?" He answered, "Not yet. The reason my family has lasted for such a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/fransisco-you-re-some-kind-of-very-high-nobility-aren-t-you-he/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [We were always expected to see Quebec's side of things, but there was damned little reciprocity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-lamarsh/we-were-always-expected-to-see-quebec-s-side-of-things-but-there-was/) [Judy LaMarsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-lamarsh/) > [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/) [Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/) > [As the future is never known with certainty, the evaluation of the prospective benefits requires the formation of expectations. An acceptable house, partner or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-t-mortensen/as-the-future-is-never-known-with-certainty-the-evaluation-of-the/) [Dale T. Mortensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-t-mortensen/) > [There's a story about how the program is organized, there's a story about the context in which the program is expected to operate. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-steele/there-s-a-story-about-how-the-program-is-organized-there-s-a-story/) [Guy Steele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-steele/) Browse all 2,196 Expected quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leo Rosten" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cruel-and-that-gentleness-is-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Expected" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cruel-and-that-gentleness-is-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/leo-rosten-9943_expected_i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cr_3218837.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/leo-rosten-9943_expected_i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cr_3218837.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/241/leo-rosten-9943_expected_i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cr_3218837.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong.” — Leo Rosten", "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 Rosten", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-rosten/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I learned that it is the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cruel-and-that-gentleness-is-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-rosten/i-learned-that-it-is-the-weak-who-are-cruel-and-that-gentleness-is-to/#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 } } ] } ```