cruel to be kind

Cultural  

1. To be “cruel to be kind” is to cause someone pain for his or her own good. The phrase is used by Hamlet after he has berated his mother for her infidelity to the memory of her deceased husband.

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Example Sentences

When I watched the “Cruel to be Kind” video on YouTube, which was partially shot at another iconic L.A. hotel, the Tropicana, it had 10 million views.

From Los Angeles Times

And he said, “I really think you should do this song ‘Cruel to be Kind.’”

From Los Angeles Times

When I was considering the lyrics, I thought that in this day and age the concept of “cruel to be kind” would be pathologized, like being narcissistic or something.

From Los Angeles Times

"You have to be cruel to be kind, and this is the pure example of it."

From BBC

“We all know that whenever you work in a professional sports environment, it can sometimes be cruel, to be kind. She’s been really brilliant with me, supportive.”

From Los Angeles Times