--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do I want to be feared or loved? That's a…" description: "\"Do I want to be feared or loved? That's a good question. I want both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.\" — Anonymous" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/anonymous-1_afraid_do-i-want-to-be-feared-or-loved-that-s-a_776114.jpg" --- # Do I want to be feared or loved? That's a good question. I… ![“Do I want to be feared or loved? That's a good question. I want both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/anonymous-1_afraid_do-i-want-to-be-feared-or-loved-that-s-a_776114.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/anonymous-1_afraid_do-i-want-to-be-feared-or-loved-that-s-a_776114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51c/anonymous-1_afraid_do-i-want-to-be-feared-or-loved-that-s-a_776114.jpg) > “Do I want to be feared or loved? That's a good question. I want both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker wonders whether fear or love is more powerful, ultimately desiring both, wanting others to fear how much they love him. **In simple terms:** Desire for both fear and love, wanting admiration that feels intense. Key Takeaway Seek respect that feels genuine, not just fear. Themes power desire relationships Mood conflicted reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - personal branding - relationships - public speaking Key Concepts psychology esteem paradox Questions to Reflect On - Do you prefer being feared or loved? - How can you earn admiration without intimidation? A Different Perspective Balancing fear and love can be unstable; too much fear erodes trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Good questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-questions/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott-the-office/would-i-rather-be-feared-or-loved-easy-both-i-want-people-to-be/) [Michael Scott (The Office](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott-the-office/) > [“I've had many companions, girls as young as you and women who were the beauties of Europe. But you're the one I want at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-j-smith/i-ve-had-many-companions-girls-as-young-as-you-and-women-who-were-the/) [L.J. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-j-smith/) > [You can live without me." "I don't want to." I feared a love like this - that made us incomplete without each other. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/you-can-live-without-me-i-don-t-want-to-i-feared-a-love-like-this/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [Machiavelli taught me it was better to be feared than loved. Because if you are loved they sense you might be weak. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/machiavelli-taught-me-it-was-better-to-be-feared-than-loved-because/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [“And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/and-here-comes-in-the-question-whether-it-is-better-to-be-loved/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Safer to be feared than loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/safer-to-be-feared-than-loved/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [“And…” Søren continued, “it’s safer to be feared than loved. At least where I’m concerned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-reisz/and-s-ren-continued-it-s-safer-to-be-feared-than-loved-at-least-where/) [Tiffany Reisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-reisz/) > [It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-much-more-secure-to-be-feared-than-to-be-loved/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“It is far safer to be feared than loved”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-far-safer-to-be-feared-than-loved/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/from-this-arises-the-question-whether-it-is-better-to-be-loved-rather/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Bullies are often people who are shy and can't make friends easily, so, as the theme of the movie 'A Bronx Tale' tells us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-zimbardo/bullies-are-often-people-who-are-shy-and-can-t-make-friends-easily-so/) [Philip Zimbardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-zimbardo/) > [It is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved? It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-better-to-be-loved-rather-than-feared-or-feared-rather-than/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-much-safer-for-the-prince-to-be-feared-than-loved-but-he-ought/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-reply-is-that-one-ought-to-be-both-feared-and-loved-but-as-it-is/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Would you prefer to be feared or loved Lord Ells?" He smiled crookedly at her, "You like quotes, don't you? So, it's as Machievelli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristiane-serruya/would-you-prefer-to-be-feared-or-loved-lord-ells-he-smiled-crookedly/) [Cristiane Serruya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristiane-serruya/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Afraid quotes > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“Carrie Fisher. “Stay afraid, but do it anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-union/carrie-fisher-stay-afraid-but-do-it-anyway/) [Gabrielle Union](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-union/) > [I used to be afraid of my temper, but it turns out I don't really have one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/i-used-to-be-afraid-of-my-temper-but-it-turns-out-i-don-t-really-have/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I am not afraid of praise, for I have practiced it on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-not-afraid-of-praise-for-i-have-practiced-it-on-myself/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I'm a pretty fearless person. I'm afraid of, like, creepy men in white vans and sidewalks with no streetlights. But I'm not afraid to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-totah/i-m-a-pretty-fearless-person-i-m-afraid-of-like-creepy-men-in-white/) [Josie Totah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-totah/) > [I will support my party when they are right on an issue, but am not afraid to stand up to party bosses who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-senger/i-will-support-my-party-when-they-are-right-on-an-issue-but-am-not/) Darlene Senger > [Why am I so afraid to loose you,when you're not even mine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-am-i-so-afraid-to-loose-you-when-you-re-not-even-mine/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I want to tell you, but I cant, becuase I'm afraid if I do you'll never treat me same the again](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-orante/i-want-to-tell-you-but-i-cant-becuase-i-m-afraid-if-i-do-you-ll-never/) [Cristina Orante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-orante/) > [Mistakes I've made in the past make me afraid to try new things in the future. I want to be perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-altucher/mistakes-i-ve-made-in-the-past-make-me-afraid-to-try-new-things-in/) [James Altucher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-altucher/) > [“Humans are naturally scared and confused beings. They not only fear the unknown, as they live fearing themselves... ☥”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-marques/humans-are-naturally-scared-and-confused-beings-they-not-only-fear/) [Luis Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-marques/) > [If you are too afraid of failure, you cant possibly do what needs to be done to succeed in living a fulfilling life. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/if-you-are-too-afraid-of-failure-you-cant-possibly-do-what-needs-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [We cannot be afraid of the dark that they live in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burnie-burns/we-cannot-be-afraid-of-the-dark-that-they-live-in/) [Burnie Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burnie-burns/) > [“I think the reason we're cruel sometimes is that we're afraid we're going to like something.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-think-the-reason-we-re-cruel-sometimes-is-that-we-re-afraid-we-re/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [I'm still with that feeling that I am afraid of doing the wrong thing, because somebody is going to punish me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eartha-kitt/i-m-still-with-that-feeling-that-i-am-afraid-of-doing-the-wrong-thing/) [Eartha Kitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eartha-kitt/) Browse all 5,519 Afraid quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Do I want to be feared or loved? 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