In the chapter entitled, “On Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than To Be Feared or the contrary” Machiavelli discusses whether a prince should allow the fear or the love he presents to keep his citizens loyal enough to gain power. Machiavelli states that “Therefore, a prince must not worry about the reproach of cruelty when it is a matter of keeping his subjects united and loyal... From this arises an argument: whether it is better to be loved than to be feared, or the contrary." He should be loved and he should be strong and forceful when needed; otherwise it could cause our nation to be perceived as vulnerable or weak and people could start to take advantage of us. "Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated, and this will be the case so long as he does not meddle with the property or women of his citizens and subjects(The Prince, page 44)." He should be strong enough to do what's needed, but not too strong that he causes his people to hate him. "Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated, and this will be the case so long as he does not meddle with the property or women of his citizens and subjects(The Prince, page 44)." He should be strong enough to do what's needed, but not too strong that he causes his people to hate
In the chapter entitled, “On Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than To Be Feared or the contrary” Machiavelli discusses whether a prince should allow the fear or the love he presents to keep his citizens loyal enough to gain power. Machiavelli states that “Therefore, a prince must not worry about the reproach of cruelty when it is a matter of keeping his subjects united and loyal... From this arises an argument: whether it is better to be loved than to be feared, or the contrary." He should be loved and he should be strong and forceful when needed; otherwise it could cause our nation to be perceived as vulnerable or weak and people could start to take advantage of us. "Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated, and this will be the case so long as he does not meddle with the property or women of his citizens and subjects(The Prince, page 44)." He should be strong enough to do what's needed, but not too strong that he causes his people to hate him. "Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated, and this will be the case so long as he does not meddle with the property or women of his citizens and subjects(The Prince, page 44)." He should be strong enough to do what's needed, but not too strong that he causes his people to hate