You can be good for the mere sake of goodness; you cannot be bad for the mere sake of badness. You can do a kind action when you are not feeling kind and when it gives you no pleasure, simply because kindness is right; but no one ever did a cruel action simply because cruelty is wrong
We may try not to think about the stranger who is suffering next to us. And we may try to ignore the disheveled person at the intersection with a sign begging for money. We may even develop a story about the person that he is conning us, or she is working for a network of panhandlers.
Rarely does anyone do cruelty for cruelty’s sake. If they did, we would conclude that the person is a psychopath. No, we usually have a reason for acting badly. But that doesn’t make it right.
It is far better to be kind for kindness’ sake, even when we don’t feel like it, because it is right.