This leads to a debate: is it better to be loved than feared, or the reverse? The answer is that it is desirable to be both, but because it is difficult to join them together, it is much safer for a prince to be feared than loved, if he is to fail in one of the two.

Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince

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More information about this quote

Topic

Leadership Political power

Author

Niccolo Machiavelli

Source

The Prince

Medium

Treatise

Genre

Political literature Philosophical literature

Language

Italian

Time

1532 1530s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

Italy Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Machiavelli, Niccolò. Il Principe [The Prince]. Rome: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532.

Current Citation

Machiavelli, Nicolò. The Prince, translated by Peter Bondanella. Oxford University Press, 2005.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Niccolo Machiavelli about leadership: “This leads to a debate: is it better to be loved than feared, or…”
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A quote by Niccolo Machiavelli about leadership: “This leads to a debate: is it better to be loved than feared, or…”
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A quote by Niccolo Machiavelli about leadership: “This leads to a debate: is it better to be loved than feared, or…”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from European Renaissance

The nature of bad news infects the teller.

William Shakespeare

Antony and Cleopatra

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More information about this quote
Topic
Bearer of bad news Bad news
Speaker
Messenger

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
Antony and Cleopatra
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Language
English
Time
1607 1600s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Antony and Cleopatra. King's Men, c. 1607, London, England, UK, act 1, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Antony and Cleopatra." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 1, sc. 2.

Another quote originally in Italian

Haste denies all acts their dignity.

Dante Alighieri

Purgatorio

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More information about this quote
Topic
Haste Taking one's time

Author

Dante Alighieri
Source
Purgatorio The Divine Comedy
Medium
Poem
Genre
Narrative poem Epic poem Religious literature
Language
Italian
Time
1321 1320s 14th century
Era
Middle Ages
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Dante. "Purgatorio [Purgatory]." La Comedia di Dante Alleghieri [The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri]. Foligno: Johann Numeister and Evangelista Angelini da Trevi, 1472.

Current Citation

Dante. "The Purgatorio." The Divine Comedy, edited by David H. Higgins, translated by C. H. Sisson. Oxford University Press, 2008.