Table of Contents
- 1 What does Machiavelli say about being a ruler?
- 2 What did Machiavelli believe was necessary for rulers to keep power?
- 3 Why did Machiavelli believe it is better for a ruler to be feared by his or her subjects than to be loved by them?
- 4 Why does Machiavelli argue that while it is good for a ruler to be feared it is bad for a ruler to be hated?
What does Machiavelli say about being a ruler?
Unlike medieval and other early-Renaissance writers who advocated that rulers – specifically kings – were sent by God to carry out his moral law, Machiavelli argued that successful rulers are the ones who do whatever they need to in order to preserve order.
What did Machiavelli believe was necessary for rulers to keep power?
Machiavelli advocated the use of cruelty, but only sparingly and in situations where it was necessary for a ruler to secure power and maintain order amongst their citizens.
How does Machiavelli believe a ruler should behave?
To be a good ruler, the ruler must have the perfect combination of animal and man. So the prince needs to be a fox that he may know how to deal with traps, and a lion that he may frighten the wolves.” Machiavelli’s The Prince. A ruler must be a fox and a lion.
How does a ruler prevent from being hated?
If a ruler conquers and maintains his state, everyone will praise him, judging his actions by their outcome. A prince must avoid becoming hated or despised. Taking the property or the women of his subjects will make him hated. Being frivolous, indecisive, and effeminate will make him despised.
Why did Machiavelli believe it is better for a ruler to be feared by his or her subjects than to be loved by them?
Forced to make a choice, it is much better to be feared than loved. This is because men, by nature, are “ungrateful, fickle, dissembling, anxious to flee danger, and covetous of gain.” In times of remote danger, they are willing to take risks for their prince, but if the danger is real, they turn against their prince.
Why does Machiavelli argue that while it is good for a ruler to be feared it is bad for a ruler to be hated?
Machiavelli maintains a distinction between fear and hatred, arguing that fear enhances a ruler’s power while hatred inevitably erodes it. Rulers must strike a careful balance between fear and hatred to avoid being overthrown by vengeful masses. Above all, rulers must leave the property of their subjects intact.