Is It Better To Be Feared Or Loved Machiavelli?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Niccolò Machiavelli was a political theorist from the Renaissance period. In his most notable work, The Prince, he writes, “

It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both

.” He argues that fear is a better motivator than love, which is why it is the more effective tool for leaders.

Did Machiavelli believe it was better to be feared or loved?

According to Niccolo Machiavelli,

it is much safer to be feared than loved

. … Machiavelli says that it’s better to be both. But since this is almost impossible to achieve, a leader is better off being feared than loved.

What does Machiavelli say about love and fear?

“it is much safer to be feared than loved because ..

. 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.”

How does Machiavelli answer the question whether it be better to be loved than feared or feared than loved?

Here a question arises: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the reverse. The answer is, of course, that

it would be best to be both loved and feared

. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved. . . .

Why does Machiavelli say it better to be feared?


Forced to make a choice

, it is much better to be feared than loved. This is because men, by nature, are “ungrateful, fickle, dissembling, anxious to flee danger, and covetous of gain.” In times of remote danger, they are willing to take risks for their prince, but if the danger is real, they turn against their prince.

Why does Machiavelli believe that it is better for a prince to be feared than to be loved quizlet?

Machiavelli claims it is better to be feared

because it is safer than being loved

since people with fear can be easier to manipulate and control into following the demands of their rulers. … Machiavelli believes the Prince should avoid the emotion of fear at all costs because it weakens men.

Why does Machiavelli say that it is better for a prince to be both loved and feared Is it possible for a prince to be both?

It is better to be feared than loved

because when people fear you, they are bound to do what you say

. Love can be broken easily, while as fear is “supported by the dred of pain, which is ever present.”

What does Machiavelli have to say about being loved rather than feared quizlet?

What does Machiavelli say about love and fear? “it is much safer to be feared than loved because …

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.

Why should a prince avoid being hated?

A

prince can defend against internal insurrection by

making sure he is not hated or scorned by the people. This is a powerful defense against conspiracies. A conspirator will have the courage to proceed with his conspiracy only if he believes the people will be satisfied when he kills the ruler.

What advice does Machiavelli give a prince?

Machiavelli advises that a

prince should carefully calculate all the wicked deeds he needs to do to secure his power, and then execute them all in one stroke

. In this way, his subjects will slowly forget his cruel deeds and the prince can better align himself with his subjects.

What are Machiavelli’s beliefs about what makes a great leader?

In a nutshell, the medieval Italian philosopher asserted that a good leader:

Should be feared rather than loved “if you cannot be both

” in order to avoid a revolt. Should have the support of the people because it’s difficult to take action without their support. Should hold good virtues.

What does Machiavelli say about being generous?

What does Machiavelli say about generosity? Machiavelli basically says

generosity can hurt a prince if the prince is unwise, but it can also be good if the prince knows how to control it

. It is more important for the prince to keep his power by being a bit mean than it is for him to be generous and loved.

Is it better to be feared?

Is it better to be loved or feared? Niccolò Machiavelli pondered that timeless conundrum 500 years ago and hedged his bets. “It may be answered that one should wish to be both,” he acknowledged, “but because it is difficult to unite them in one person,

it is much safer to be feared than loved

.”

How does Machiavelli think a prince should behave?

Machiavelli does not argue that a prince should actively avoid doing what is good but that, if necessary, a prince must be prepared

to act unethically

. … Although Machiavelli’s prince rules in an autocratic state, he must nonetheless practice the kind of politics of image demanded within republics and democracies.

How can a prince lose respect?

Summary — Chapter XXIII: How to Avoid Flatterers

A prince should allow only wise advisers to speak with him, and only when he specifically requests their advice. A prince should not listen to anyone else and should be firm in his decisions.

Vacillation will lead to a loss of respect

.

Should a prince keep his word according to Machiavelli?


A wise prince should never keep his word when it would go against his interest

, because he can expect others to do the same. In order to pull it off, you must be a good liar, but you will always find people willing to be deceived.

When should a prince be generous?


If a prince is giving away other people’s property

, he can afford to be generous, but if he is giving away his own resources, he will become grasping and hated or poor and despised.

Why Are loved leaders better?

In contrast, being ‘loved’ as a leader has its advantages

when you want to empower people with freedom and responsibility so they can take initiative and be creative

. People will only ‘dare to perform’ to the best of their ability, or go the extra mile for a leader, if they feel trusted and respected.

What ought to be done Machiavelli?

“How we live is so different from how we ought to live that he who studies what ought to be done rather than what is done will learn the way to his downfall rather than to his preservation.”

Which is stronger love or fear?

And even though sometimes love and fear seem to walk hand in hand,

love is ultimately more powerful

. We can walk the “narrow bridge” because we walk above the safety net of love — the love we receive from others and God.

Is it good to be feared as a leader?

The researchers found that when leaders were perceived as angry, employees felt they were more powerful. At the same time, leaders who were seen as sad were less powerful in a traditional sense, but had more personal power. So which is better? The truth is,

it’s neither better to be loved or feared

.

What did Niccolo Machiavelli believe?

Machiavelli believed that public and private morality had to be understood as two different things in order to rule well. As a result, a ruler must be concerned not only with reputation, but also must be positively willing to act unscrupulously at the right times.

Who makes a better leader someone who is feared or someone who is loved?


Niccolò Machiavelli

was a political theorist from the Renaissance period. In his most notable work, The Prince, he writes, “It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both.” He argues that fear is a better motivator than love, which is why it is the more effective tool for leaders.

Was Machiavelli a leader?


An effective leader

, Machiavelli wrote, maximizes virtù and minimizes the role of fortune.

What are the two things that the prince should do to avoid being hated?

A prince must avoid becoming hated or despised.

Taking the property or the women of his subjects will make him hated

. Being frivolous, indecisive, and effeminate will make him despised. All a prince’s actions should show seriousness, strength, and decisiveness.

Does a Machiavellian prince avoid all vices?

A prince must know when to act immorally. Everyone agrees that a prince should have all good qualities, but because that is impossible,

a wise prince will avoid those vices

that would destroy his power and not worry about the rest. … Machiavelli recognizes that princes are always in the public eye.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.