11/07/26

I recently saw a news clip where one liberal politician made the statement that when treating the opposition, they must be “ruthless.” This was not a new word to me, but something struck me about the wording that caused me to take a good look at what being ruthless means. I found that being ruthless is an adjective that means having no pity, mercy, or compassion; cruel, hardhearted, or determined to succeed without caring about any pain caused to others. This word is traced back to the Middle English word “rue,” which means (to bitterly regret, feel sorry for, or experience remorse about something) and is followed by “less,” which means (being empty of any such feelings)

I was certain that a psychologist had something to say about ruthless people. I found that psychologists view ruthless behavior as a group of three distinct but overlapping personality traits: They have a cold, strategic approach that views other people as tools or instruments to be manipulated for personal gain. They also have an inflated sense of self-importance, grandiosity, and a constant hunger for admiration and superiority. They suffer from a combination of high impulsivity, thrill-seeking, and a core lack of empathy or remorse. As far as success is concerned, such ruthless negotiators can sometimes claim more immediate value in one-time interactions, as they act strictly out of self-interest without emotional hesitation. However, over time, this style destroys trust and reciprocity, becoming a serious liability.

Furthermore, studies tracking corporate and political figures (such as research by Daniel Spurk or studies on U.S. senators) show that pure, cutthroat ruthlessness does not reliably guarantee long-term success. For instance, high psychopathy often correlates with lower peer support and poor performance metrics over a career. Other psychologists note that individuals who manage to climb corporate ladders while displaying ruthless traits usually possess high self-regulation and lateral prefrontal cortex density, allowing them to mask their lack of empathy with surface-level charm, charisma, and strategic control rather than raw, chaotic aggression. Thus, ruthless individuals often detach their self-worth from individual outcomes. They view failures as neutral data points rather than personal reflections. Also, because they do not spend mental energy worrying about hurting others’ feelings or second-guessing social norms, they make decisions and execute actions faster, though often with a higher error or collateral damage rate. That’s why extreme ruthlessness is often associated with differences in brain structures, like a smaller or less-reactive explosive response that processes fear and distress in others.

But certainly, the Bible also has some words for ruthless people. We find that the Bible views cruelty not just as a bad habit, but as a direct rebellion against God’s character and love. I found that Psalm 11:5 states that God hates violence and loves righteousness, while Micah 6:8 calls people to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”. Then as Proverbs 11:17 notes, “A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself”. Solomon goes on to say that  “Those who live right care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” And again, in Proverbs 22:24-25, Don’t be friends with people who become angry easily. Don’t stay around quick-tempered people. If you do, you may learn to be like them. Then you will have the same problems they do. Don’t promise to pay someone else’s debt.

In the New Testament, instead of meeting cruelty with more cruelty or personal revenge, the Bible outlines a different path: Love and Pray for Enemies: Jesus instructed his followers in Matthew 5:44 to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. The Bible also teaches that cruel and evil behavior starts from within. In Mark 7:21-22, Jesus explains that evil thoughts, malice, and deceit come straight from the human heart. Paul also has something to say: believers are commanded not to take personal revenge (Romans 12:19), trusting instead that God is a righteous judge who repays evil fairly. And, in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be fooled: ‘Bad friends will ruin good habits.” 1 Corinthians 15:33. In other words, do not cooperate, compromise, or concede to any of their ruthless schemes. Remain faithful to your principles and let Truth win the battle.