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

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head.
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.

William Shakespeare

As You Like It

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More information about this quote
Topic
Learning from adversity Life lessons Adversity
Speaker
Duke Senior

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
As You Like It
Medium
Play
Genre
Comedy (play)
Statement Type
Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1616 1610s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "As You Like It." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 1.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "As You Like It." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 1.

Another quote originally in Italian

War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have the courage to face it.

Benito Mussolini

More information about this quote
Topic
Attraction of war Praise of war War

Author

Benito Mussolini
Language
Italian
Time
1932 1930s 20th century
Authentication Score 1
Citation

Mussolini, Benito. "Fascismo [Fascism]: 'Forza e consenso [Strength and Consent].'" Enciclopedia Italiana [Italian Encyclopedia]. 1932.