Cruelty doesn’t get enough attention. Judith Shklar pointed that out; Montaigne pointed it out.
When I drew up that quick secular 10 commandments recently I put “don’t be cruel” first. I kind of take it for granted that that’s essential…but apparently I’m not in the majority on that.
I just Googled the word and I’m a bit shocked to find that most of the first entries are for cruelty to animals, as if cruelty to humans isn’t a thing.
Cruelty to humans is a thing.