I am not cruel, only just; I do unto others what they have done unto me.
He borrows sacred rhythm to defend his methods. The golden-rule echo is inverted into retaliation. It’s persuasive until innocents feel the blast radius. The line captures how vengeance can clothe itself in fairness. Emotionally, readers may nod—and then hesitate. As the story widens, “only just” becomes too small a claim. Mercy arrives to round the circle.