Is It Better To Be Loved Or Feared Analysis

As a leader, is it better to be feared or to be loved? This question is so important for a few reasons. The first reason that this question is so important is because it can not only help the leaders of today, but in ways, can help everyone. It shows that no matter what kind of leader you may be, it is good to ask yourself this question of whether or not it is better to be feared of loved. Also, finding the answer to this question will help everyone for either now or for the future. Everyone at some point in their lives are going to have to answer this question themselves. This is important because you need to know how to treat your employees or any time type of leadership position you might have. Machiavelli says “far as being feared and loved is concerned, since men decide for themselves whom they love, and rulers decide whom they fear, a wise ruler should rely on the emotions he can control, not on the one he cannot. But he must avoid being hated.” (Machiavelli 53) Machiavelli himself has trouble answering this question one way or another, but we
The ruler needs to realize that if he is loved there is a greater chance for the civilians to want to try and revolt. Being feared as a leader will mean that the civilians would not want to take a chance on the leader and test the leader. However, this also can apply to our lives today, if a leader is feared, that means that the employees would be afraid of to make a mistake and therefore work harder to get everything right for their leader. If the leader was loved and not feared, than the employees would be fine with making a mistake and it might happen continuously. So in conclusion the first reason as to why it is better to be feared is because the civilians could take advantage of you as a leader if you are