# XVII: Concerning Cruelty and Clemency, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than Feared explained — The Prince > Chapter companion for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. ## What happens Machiavelli argues that a prince should be both loved and feared, but if forced to choose, it is safer to be feared. He uses Cesare Borgia as an example of effective cruelty that unifies a state, and contrasts this with the Florentine people's misplaced mercy. He emphasizes that fear, maintained through punishment, is more reliable than love, which is easily broken by self-interest. However, a prince must avoid hatred by respecting subjects' property and women. Military contexts require cruelty to maintain discipline, as demonstrated by Hannibal, while Scipio's leniency led to rebellion. ## Themes in this chapter ### Fear vs. Love as a Governing Tool Central to the chapter: Machiavelli argues that fear is more reliable than love for maintaining control, as love is fickle and easily broken by self-interest. ### The Use of Cruelty and Clemency Explores how well-applied cruelty can unify a state and prevent greater harm, while misplaced clemency leads to disorder. ### Human Nature and Its Exploitation Machiavelli describes men as ungrateful, fickle, and cowardly, justifying the prince's reliance on fear over love. ### Military Strength and Self-Reliance Discusses the necessity of cruelty to maintain army discipline, using Hannibal and Scipio as contrasting examples. ## Character check-ins ### Cesare Borgia Cited as an example of a prince whose cruelty reconciled and unified the Romagna, restoring peace and loyalty. ### Hannibal Praised for his inhuman cruelty which kept his diverse army united and disciplined through both good and bad fortune. ### Scipio Used as a counterexample; his excessive forbearance led to rebellion among his troops and was criticized by Fabius Maximus. ### Fabius Maximus Upbraided Scipio in the Senate for corrupting Roman soldiery through leniency. ### The Prince The central subject of the chapter, advised to prefer being feared over loved while avoiding hatred. ## Key lines > Cesare Borgia was considered cruel; notwithstanding, his cruelty reconciled the Romagna, unified it, and restored it to peace and loyalty. Though Cesare Borgia was seen as cruel, his harsh actions actually brought peace and unity to the Romagna region. _Key example of effective cruelty._ > it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with. If a prince cannot be both loved and feared, it is wiser to choose being feared. _Core thesis of the chapter._ > men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails. People are more willing to harm someone they love than someone they fear, because love depends on gratitude that is easily forgotten, while fear is maintained by the constant threat of punishment. _Rationale for preferring fear over love._ > men more quickly forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. People are more upset by losing their property than by the death of a family member. _Advice to avoid seizing subjects' property to prevent hatred._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xvii-concerning-cruelty-and-clemency-and-whether-it-is-better-to-be-loved-than-feared - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_prince_se/chapters