WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -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.

Detailed explanation-2: -This passage from Chapter XVII contains perhaps the most famous of Machiavelli’s statements. Often, his argument that it is better to be feared than loved is taken at face value to suggest that The Prince is a handbook for dictators and tyrants.

Detailed explanation-3: -Until Machiavelli’s writing, most philosophers of politics had defined a good leader as humble, moral and honest. Machiavelli shed that notion, saying frankly, “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot have both.”

Detailed explanation-4: -In Machiavelli’s famous book The Prince, he explored the topic of being loved or being feared in the context of politicians and rulers of nations. Machiavelli concluded if only given one choice, it was better to be feared.