ipl-logo

Comparing Machiavelli's Views On Leadership And Fear

957 Words4 Pages

Colter Tuttle P.4 Machiavelli Essay Machiavelli argues that a leader should be both loved and feared, but if you had to pick one, pick fear. He favors fear over being loved, because it is safer for the leader to have his followers fear him than love him. It is easier to betray someone that you have love for, than someone that you fear. Machiavelli also believes that when you have an army, in order to keep them in harmony, they would have to fear you and respect your abilities as a leader. If they had no fear of their leader they would not be as united as they would be if they solely respected him. Machiavelli believes that you have to balance mercy and cruelty, because if you are too merciful then your people will not respect you or have …show more content…

In Machiavelli’s opinion, men are fickle, ungrateful, selfish, and unpredictable. Machiavelli says, “Men have less hesitation in injuring one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared, for love is held by a chain of duty which, since men are bad, they break at every chance at their own profit; but fear is held by a dread of punishment that never fails you.” This way of thinking is very safe, when you cannot predict the outcomes of your people you should be feared by them. I think that is a very smart way of thinking, because it is truly easier to betray the people that you love than the people that you fear. The people that you love are easy to betray, so why would a leader want to be loved and have the possibility of being betrayed, because he cannot balance both being loved and feared. He should choose to …show more content…

It is difficult to try to balance the two in harmony. A feared leader has less probability to be taken from power, murdered, and more of a chance to be respected, and have loyal armies. A leader that is loved is more easy to be seen as weak, as a feared leader would be seen as cruel, but needed in order for them to survive. A feared leader may not be what the people want, but it is something that they truly do need. A leader cannot have too much mercy because his people will not take him seriously, but he would be loved for doing so. In my opinion I believe that any great leader should choose to be feared rather than loved if he has the choice to do

Show More
Related

  • Age Of Absolutism Dbq

    733 Words  | 3 Pages

    Machiavelli’s book also suggests that a ruler should be feared by everyone that dares to face him. At this time, one ruler appeared to be more daunting than a chain of command. Another major idea spread during this time period was the idea of a social contract, from “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes. He explains that if two people desire the same thing which they cannot both enjoy, they will end up destroying each other. Two people should be able to lay down their right to all things and be contempt with having as much as another person has, instead of trying to fight with them in order to gain more.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Lao Tzu And Machiavelli

    401 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lao Tzu and Machiavelli have different perspective on how a leader should lead, one believes in a compassionate leader while the other believes in a cunning leader. These seemingly contrasting ideas can be combined to form an effective leader. Lao Tzu’s idea of a compassionate leader is compatible with Machiavelli’s idea of a cunning leader, because these ideas are complementary. For a leader to become respected and praised, one must be compassionate to one’s subjects. A leader must try to act for the benefit of the citizens, one must have empathy towards the people.

    Read More

  • Comparing Machiavelli And Lao Tzu's Ideas

    251 Words  | 2 Pages

    Machiavelli believes that in order for a leader “not to rob his subjects” he must be willing to accept

    Read More

  • First Global Age Analysis

    716 Words  | 3 Pages

    The main point made by Machiavelli was that men are inherently bad, so a leader must rule in a way that takes this into account. He taught that because of man’s ungratefulness, it is safer to be feared than loved (D-4). This shows that Machiavelli believed that the power and success of a country will lead to the prosperity of its inhabitants. Both influential people believed that a country prospers the most under absolute power.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Niccólo Machiavelli's The Prince

    1519 Words  | 7 Pages

    In the book, Machiavelli believes in the idea of having a strong dominant leader, in order to preserve the benefits to the citizens as a group instead of individually. This strategy clearly shows in chapter seventeen where Machiavelli points out that every prince would prefer to be loved than to be feared. However, the two rarely co-existed. If one had to choose, it is not only better to be feared than to be loved but it is also much “safer” looking at it realistically. By safer, it means that you will not have to worry and watch out as much since people will be less likely to conspire against someone they fear than someone they love.

    Read More

  • Qualities Of A Good Man In Machiavelli's The Prince

    1284 Words  | 6 Pages

    A leader’s cruelty enables him to make the decisions necessary for the kingdom, while also being miserly to keep the people happy. I think that Machiavelli’s advice provides a sound basis on how leaders today can lead. On other hand, others may argue that Machiavelli’s advice leads rulers astray and rather rulers should be kind and generous because morally that is the right thing to do. No matter the interpretation of how a ruler should lead, Machiavelli's analyst of a leaders provides insight into everyday life and causes leaders today to think about how they

    Read More

  • Age Of Absolutism Dbq Essay

    930 Words  | 4 Pages

    Machiavelli wrote about a fictitious prince, describing how he is a terrible being who has no respect for people who have a lower status than him. He is described as being selfish and untrustworthy. His writing about this prince was supposed to replicate princes and kings that were ruling and open he reader’s eyes to real issues occuring. In Document 1 there is an excerpt from The Prince, written by Machiavelli, telling about how terrible the Prince of England. Document 1 states, “For all men in general this observation may be made: they are ungrateful, fickle, and deceitful, eager to avoid dangers, and avid for gain, and while you are useful to them they are all with you, but when it [danger] approaches they turn on you”.

    Read More

  • Rhetorical Analysis Of Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

    989 Words  | 4 Pages

    His mindset was simple. to manifest dismay and use the overwhelming power as a dictator. His intentions are clear, and his words are powerful. With a combination of rhetorical devices, a symphony of teachings are made and preached. Machiavelli is a strong advocate to use fear to herd together the common man, he begins his argument by asking a simple question, “ Here the question… safer than to be loved”.

    Read More

  • Comparing Machiavelli's The Prince And The Discourses

    1492 Words  | 6 Pages

    The best place to begin for this where he answered the question which is better to be loved or feared Love or Fear Which is to be better loved or feared? This question is an important one and Machiavelli answer for it is great. “One ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved” (Machiavelli 61). This leads to one of his core beliefs which is that, he believes humans are awful creatures and will seek out

    Read More

  • Machiavelli's Use Of Lying And Deception In Politics

    954 Words  | 4 Pages

    One aspect of Machiavelli’s theory which significantly contributes to his reputation as the “philosopher of evil,” is his advice to the prince on keeping their word to the public. In chapter eighteen, Machiavelli states, “a wise ruler cannot, and should not, keep his word when doing so is to his disadvantage, and when the reasons that led him to promise to do so no longer apply” (pg. 37). To simplify, Machiavelli says princes are obligated to lie in certain circumstances. He also states that while it is unnecessary for the prince to have positive qualities, such as honesty, trustworthiness, sympathy, compassion, or be religious, it is essential for the prince to be viewed so by the public (pg. 37). While many people argue that Machiavelli’s legitimization of lying and deception in politics is immoral, I argue the opposite.

    Read More

  • Erasmus Vs Machiavelli

    1034 Words  | 5 Pages

    Machiavelli believed that men will follow a ruler as long as the ruler serves their interests, and a quick to turn against the ruler unless they fear great punishment. Machiavelli would say that it is best to be feared rather than loved as long as the fear does not cause hate, which he believed to be perfectly possible.

    Read More

  • Essay On Power In Animal Farm

    975 Words  | 4 Pages

    Power can have the persuasive action in undoing the moral ethics of one’s character. This can be seen throughout history, such as World War II and proven by the actions of Napoleon in the allegory, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. As Lord Acton said “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” In history what was viewed as a villain, is never the same as the perception. A leader does not begin wanting to do wrong, they start with the best intentions, but power is a tricky thing.

    Read More

  • The Principles Of Leadership In The Prince By Machiavelli

    1238 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to Machiavelli, a successful leader should to exhibit a certain character which is key to their success. He highlights five key qualities that a leader should possess A leader should be feared by the people. According to Machiavelli, it is better to be feared than loved. He believed that the people were less likely to revolt if they feared the leader

    Read More

  • Machiavelli: The Characteristics Of Being A Good Prince

    1526 Words  | 7 Pages

    This is a work that still influences us today and is still relevant in today’s complex society. Some of the most prominent leaders of the 20th century have been influenced by Machiavellian ideas. U.S Presidents like Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton and U.K Prime Minister Anthony Blair are called Machiavellian leaders today. According to Machiavelli a prince must focus all his serious time and energy to war and how to wage it (Machiavelli, 31).

    Read More

  • The Prince Reflection

    1021 Words  | 5 Pages

    In his novel, the prince, nicolo machiavelli guides us to be a fruitful ruler. He clarifies the best routes for any ruler or sovereign to govern a region, bring prosper to the society, and keep up their position. This book can be read by anyone to get a few pointers on political issues. Most of the thoughts held by machivelli were linked to mercilessness and evil, hence they raised a considerable number of eyebrows. He maintains that the ruler 's primary goal should be conquering, staying in control of the general public and to always have the idea of war in mind.

    Read More

More about Comparing Machiavelli's Views On Leadership And Fear

Open Document