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3. You have to be cruel to be kind

You have to be cruel to be kind

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You have to be cruel to be kind.

something that you say when you do something to someone that will upset them now because you think it will help them in the future I told her she's just not good enough to be a professional dancer - sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. I know you have to be cruel to be kind, Sam, but telling Amy that she looks fat in her party dress was a bit harsh.

See also: cruel, have, kind