I may sound cruel because I'm doing my best to point something out to the two of you.

It may sound cruel, but the old generation will have to die before we can look at what is before us.

She had never known Steve to look or sound so cruel.

I don't mean to sound cruel, but you must do this for me.

"I'm sure this sounds cruel from your perspective," he said.

No, that sounds cruel, as if my death were a thing you had planned.

I know it sounds terribly cruel, but it's the way things were done back then.

"I don't mean to sound cruel, but, we do need your bed, for those seriously hurt."

This sounds cruel, but such is the law of life.

He used examples that sounded cruel at the time, but I've never forgotten them.