by Camille Gaston

Created on: December 30, 2006   Last Updated: May 18, 2007

Niccol Machiavelli, the well-known philosopher of the Italian Renaissance, poses this question in this famous book excerpt The Morals of the Prince: "is it better to be loved than feared, or vice versa?" Machiavelli answers his own question, arguing that a prince is much safer being feared than being loved. Inducing fear upon his subjects with cruelty will keep them united and loyal. Those who are fearful of a person of any authority are more inclined not to cross the boundary of disrespect, for fear of punishment. It is also important that a person who desires to be feared is not hated by his subjects. Machiavelli uses examples of past princes and rulers who have made themselves feared among their subjects, making a sound argument that being feared is safer than being loved; however, does this necessarily mean that it's better?

Being feared has many setbacks. Is this person who desires to be feared capable of trusting others? Probably not. He knows that there is a possibility that his fear tactics of cruelty can backfire, so he has to keep a suspicious eye on those he considers his close friends or advisors. How can a feared person have any friends, or ones to depend on? Friendships and relationships are important assets to anyone's life, but they require trust among each party. We are always interacting with others. Interdependence among others is essential to survive in this world. We depend on family to feed and shelter us. We depend on our government officials to protect our country. We depend on our friends and loved ones to comfort and encourage us. To a person of authority, a friend can be a good advisor who has their best interest at heart. Along with trust, true friendship consists of loyalty and honesty. Fear can make a person loyal; but if a person were feared by their friends, would his friends be honest with him? Of course not. Their friends would say and do things for him out of loyalty, but not out of honesty. If their honesty somehow violates the boundaries of respect, this would displease the ruler and he might subject to excommunicating his advisor.

Fear can be overcome. Once a person gets over their fear of their ruler, then they can boldly cross those boundaries and could even overthrow them of their power, becoming disloyal and detached from their reign. Fear has the ability of failing, because in most cases it does not last forever. However, love does; and this is the reason why being loved is better than being feared.

We are all familiar

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>