Maggie, we're through with lies and liars in this house. Lock the door.
Tennessee WilliamsRead
All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Cruel individuals often justify their behavior by claiming to be honest and direct.
This quote by Tennessee Williams highlights the hypocrisy in self-perception among cruel individuals, who tend to mask their malice with a facade of honesty. By portraying themselves as paragons of frankness, they deflect criticism and avoid recognition of their harmful actions, suggesting that one's self-identity can be distorted to justify unethical behavior.
Themes
CrueltyHonestyHypocrisySelf-PerceptionFrankness
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about honesty in relationships, this quote can be used to illustrate the idea that some people hide their true intentions under a guise of frankness.
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