Concerning Cruelty And Clemency, And Whether It Is Better To Be Loved Than Feared

The Prince ^ | Written c. 1505, published 1515 | Nicolò Machiavelli

[Gaetano]

Upon this a question arises: whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved? It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with. Because this is to be asserted in general of men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous, and as long as you succeed they are yours entirely; they will offer you their blood, property, life and children, as is said above, when the need is far distant; but when it approaches they turn against you. And that prince who, relying entirely on their promises, has neglected other precautions, is ruined; because friendships that are obtained by payments, and not by greatness or nobility of mind, may indeed be earned, but they are not secured, and in time of need cannot be relied upon; and men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.

[Gaetano]

Truer words have never been spoken. Unleash Hell in Iraq !

[Odyssey-x]

The problem with being feared though is people are always trying to find ways to stab you in the back so the leader(s) have to create a government based on paranoia to protect themselves. Paranoia based governments leads to really lousy organizational dynamics where everyone only focuses on avoiding blame. It makes it so that problems are hidden and not fixed. These societies generally collapse under the weight of their inefficiency and denial unless they are headed by an absolutely brilliant leader. At best, fear only works as a temporary strategy.

[perfect stranger]

bump

Machiavelli could write some long sentences. WOW!

[Libertarianize the GOP]

History is full of strongmen who lived a full life in power, where most such governments fail is in not being able to provide a line of succession of the equally talented and ruthless.

[Pagey]

"...men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails..."

BUMP!

[Xenalyte]

I've long suspected Machiavelli had German in his background. Those two-page-long sentences don't write themselves, y'know. :)