"All cruel people describe themselves as paragons of frankness"

This quote by Tennessee Williams is a commentary on the nature of cruelty. It recommends that those who are cruel frequently try to validate their habits by declaring that they are just being honest and direct. However, Williams implies that this is not the case. Cruelty is not a sign of frankness, but rather a sign of an absence of empathy and understanding. It is a way of disregarding the feelings of others and overlooking the effects of one's actions. In this way, Williams recommends that those who are harsh are not apotheosis of frankness, but rather are self-centered and inconsiderate.