Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

The ideal situation for a ruler is to be both feared and loved. A ruler that is loved is only effective while that love can lead to personal gain for their subjects. Once the ruler’s power weakens, they are quickly abandoned. If the subjects fear the ruler, that fear guarantees support. They ask themselves: “What will he do to us if we are disloyal?” That fear and uncertainty keep the people loyal and obedient, even in difficult times.

Politics have no relation to morals.

It has become a principle that political policy and the law should be based on common interests, not morals—not “natural law.” In part, this is because of disagreement on “natural law,” especially on what you’re calling “morals” which are tied so clearly to subjective opinions or desires. The fear of basing policy and legislation on subjective or relative morals is that you would be enforcing some people’s desires on others without their consent.