Machiavelli: The Qualities of the Prince

According to Machiavelli it is better for a prince to be feared. I find his thoughts about the particular subject kind of disturbing but ultimately true. While the idea of being loved and respected would be great for any governing person to have, I believe that there would be limited respect and that would definitely lead to misfortune on behalf of the governing individual. Machiavelli gives multiple examples of how an individuals compassion can ultimately lead to the downfall of the common good. In the destruction of Pistoia, the Florentine people's primary goal was to avoid being cruel to it's people and this ultimately lead to the destruction of Pistoria. Macheavelli states "with a very few examples of cruelty he will be more compassionate than those who, out of excessive mercy, permit disorders to continue, from which arise murders and plundering; for these usually harm the community at large, while the executions that come from the prince harm one individual in particular" (Macheavelli 43). As harsh as this may sound, I agree. Sometimes being nice isn't always the answer because there a lot of people that take your kindness for weakness. Therefore as Macheavelli puts it "one should like to be both one and the other; but since it is difficult to join them together, it is much safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking" (Macheavelli 44). While the idea of ruling through fear seems like something from out of the dark ages, I have a certain level of respect for it simply because I know that as a ruler there must be limitations as to what one is willing to tolerate. Being known as a compassionate ruler, while would be great, I don't think they would be able to maintain their empire. I feel that their compassion would ultimately lead to their downfall.

Machiavelli. "The Qualities of the Prince." A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martins. 2006. pp.37-50.