“I must be cruel only to be kind.” (Hamlet, III.IV.181) This line from Hamlet is an example of a literary paradox. I must be cruel only to be kind ~ Hamlet Act 3, scene 4, 173–179. I will bestow him, and will answer well The death I gave him. That I must be their scourge and minister. Favorite Answer. Popular. it means that the cruel deed tht he is to perform will seem cruel … I must be cruel only to be kind (Hamlet III.IV.181) This is a nice literary paradox, but not a logical one. thus bad begins, and wors remains behind"(from hamlet book. A-Z. Oh I can't take another heartache Though you say you're my friend, I'm at my wit's end You say your love is bonafide, but that don't coincide With the things that you do And when I ask you to be nice, you say You've gotta be cruel to be kind, in the right measure Cruel to be kind, it's a very good sign Cruel to be kind, means that I love you, baby (You've gotta be cruel) You gotta be cruel … Favorite Answer. From Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4: "I must be cruel, only to be kind: / Thus bad begins and worse remains behind." 1 Answer. to be cruel in order to be kind means: doing something now, that will hurt someone, but is best for them in the long run bad begins, and worse remains behind: would, in relation to the first line, mean that its going to be bad,,,,, but the alternative is worse, the worse is behind you for instance, if you are in a … "Cruel to Be Kind" is a song by Nick Lowe, co-written by Lowe and his former Brinsley Schwarz bandmate Ian Gomm. What does the phrase "I must be cruel only to be kind" mean? 1 decade ago. cruel to be kind synonyms, cruel to be kind pronunciation, cruel to be kind translation, English dictionary definition of cruel to be kind. 3 Answers. Hamlet is sorry that he killed Polonius, but says fatalistically that "heaven hath pleased it so to punish me with this." The concept apparently originates with Hamlet with the … Written by Lowe and Gomm while the pair were in Brinsley Schwarz, the song was saved on a demo until Columbia Records convinced Lowe to release it. For starters, if a meaning of a statement is contradictory in a manner that may not be resolved into something sensible, then it cannot be considered as logical. Answer Save. It is used in Hamlet? Angelic Devil. The definition of cruel to be kind with examples. Relevance. I think there are very few contexts where it could be morally correct to actually be “cruel”, which is not synonymous with “direct”, or “candid”, or “setting limits”. So, again, good night. Cruel to be kind is the idea that actions that on the surface are unkind may be kind in the pragmatic sense that they help someone. Relevance. 1 decade ago. It is apparent that cruel and kind are two opposing personalities. Musically, the song was inspired by "The Love I Lost" … Cruel To Be Kind is a song by Nick Lowe about his girlfriend responding to him when he asks her why she just cannot be nice.The phrase “cruel to be kind” was invented by Shakespeare in Hamlet; when Hamlet admonished his mother for her immorality she complained about his cruelty with bitter tears and Hamlet replied, “I am cruel only to be kind.” Answer Save. Define cruel to be kind. Verb . Dennisse. I must be cruel to be kind: Thus bad begins and only worse remains behind. Cruel and kind are apparent contradictions, but of course it’s perfectly logical to say that one must be cruel (in some minor way) in order to be kind (in some other, more important way). Cruel to be kind: Explain this Shakespearean quote? i need for next 15 min pleas help us thanke you. be cruel to be kind (third-person singular simple present is cruel to be kind, present participle being cruel to be kind, simple past was cruel to be kind, past participle been cruel to be kind) whta dose meaning "i must be cruel only to be kind. Criticism.