What does the phrase "cruel to be kind" mean? I've never quite understood it
2006-10-29 05:52:25 · 3 answers · asked by collegeboundblonde1287 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Lets say a guy likes you. You don't like him.
He keeps asking you out and you tell him you can't go because you have to wash your hair, visit your sick grandmother, etc ...
By making excuses and being kind, you are also being cruel by leading him on in the hopes that one day he will get a clue and stop asking you out.
Or lets say someone has a serious problem. Underplaying the problem in order to be polite or kind, like pretending that Daddy's just "sleeping" when the reality is that he is passed out dead-drunk is also being cruel to be kind because you are letting an unacceptable situation to continue under the guise of politeness.
2006-10-29 06:05:19 · answer #1 · answered by BoomChikkaBoom 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Okay, here's an example. A parent is constantly having to bail a teenaged or 20ish kid out of jail. Finally the parent gets that call that the kid is once again in jail, but this time decides not to bail the kid out. The kid will learn that eventually they have to take responsibility for their own actions. Another example, getting your kids their vaccinations. It hurts for a minute, but it's really to prevent them from getting potentially deadly diseases, which is ultimately kinder and makes the cruelty of the jabs seem small.
2006-10-29 14:08:36 · answer #2 · answered by nimo22 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sometimes you have to do something of great evil to do a greater good....
2006-10-29 13:55:52 · answer #3 · answered by Angel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋