I feel like what every narcissist has in common is the inability to reach out for reassurance and support without lashing out. From my mother, to various men I've been involved with, these people seem to consistently know just where to stick the knife..then evince seemingly genuine astonishment when I responded with real pain. Surely they could only possibly be the source of the noblest acts of courage, not such notable malice and cruelty!

Once I stopped taking such cruelty as a call to arms, and instead saw it more wisely as a prompt to separate myself from the narcissist in question--I found that I was able to maintain my own peace.

Bonus points if I could call out this person's behavior publicly.