I have been wracking my brain (ow) but cannot think of the title or author of a certain short story. (Maybe someone here will recognize it?) The scariest alien comes from that story, and of course it's a human.

A man is sent to another planet on a diplomatic mission to negotiate an agreement with the planet's ruling committee. He is told that to speak with the commitee he must submit to various trials. These include ritual amputations of - first - fingers and toes, leading to his giving up his arms, legs, and genitals. Finally, he is blinded.

Then he is considered worthy enough not only to speak with the committee but to join it.

Shortly after, a servant informs him that his wife has arrived and wants to speak with him. He tells the servant to cut off one of her fingers.

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Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by ignorance or stupidity.
Isaac Asimov