--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... one would like to be both [loved and…" description: "\"“... one would like to be both [loved and feared], but as it is difficult to combine both love and fear, if one has to choose between them it is far sa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/niccolo-machiavelli-368_fear_one-would-like-to-be-both-loved-and-fear_1293665.jpg" --- # ... one would like to be both \[loved and feared\], but as… ![“... one would like to be both [loved and feared], but as it is difficult to combine both love and fear, if one has to choose between them it is far safer to be feared than loved” quote by Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/niccolo-machiavelli-368_fear_one-would-like-to-be-both-loved-and-fear_1293665.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/niccolo-machiavelli-368_fear_one-would-like-to-be-both-loved-and-fear_1293665.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/242/niccolo-machiavelli-368_fear_one-would-like-to-be-both-loved-and-fear_1293665.jpg) > ““... one would like to be both \[loved and feared\], but as it is difficult to combine both love and fear, if one has to choose between them it is far safer to be feared than loved”” [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It is safer to be feared than loved because fear is more reliable when loyalty is uncertain. **In simple terms:** Being feared is more dependable than being loved. Key Takeaway Balance power with respect, not just affection. Themes power trust leadership Mood cautious analytical Type philosophical strategic When to use this quote - business leadership - politics - personal relationships Key Concepts political realism human nature control Questions to Reflect On - Is it possible to be both feared and loved? - What are the long‑term costs of ruling through fear? A Different Perspective Fear can breed resentment and rebellion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fear Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear-choose-797482/) [Feared Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-difficult-4223967/) [Feared Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-loved-272304/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love and fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-and-fear/) [Love Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-fear/) [Loved Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-feared-1121178/) [Thought provoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-provoking/) ## Related quotes > [“This raises the question whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the contrary. My reply is that I would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machiavelli-1532/this-raises-the-question-whether-it-is-better-to-be-loved-than-feared/) [Machiavelli(1532](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machiavelli-1532/) > [“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/) > [My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/my-view-is-that-it-is-desirable-to-be-both-loved-and-feared-but-it-is/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“From this arises an argument: whether it is better to be loved than feared. I reply that one should like to be both one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/from-this-arises-an-argument-whether-it-is-better-to-be-loved-than/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [In a choice between love and fear, choose love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/in-a-choice-between-love-and-fear-choose-love/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [“Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/since-love-and-fear-can-hardly-exist-together-if-we-must-choose/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-answer-is-of-course-that-it-would-be-best-to-be-both-loved-and/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It's better to be loved than feared, but if you can't be loved, then fear will do.-Dino quoting Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-s-better-to-be-loved-than-feared-but-if-you-can-t-be-loved-then/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Sin and love and fear are just sounds that people who never sinned nor loved nor feared have for what they never had and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-faulkner/sin-and-love-and-fear-are-just-sounds-that-people-who-never-sinned/) [William Faulkner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-faulkner/) > [“You are ready and able to do beautiful things in this world and after you walk through those doors...you'll only really ever have two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/you-are-ready-and-able-to-do-beautiful-things-in-this-world-and-after/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [You are always walking in the direction of either love or fear. Choose wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/you-are-always-walking-in-the-direction-of-either-love-or-fear-choose/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [You are ready and able to do beautiful things in this world. You will only ever have two choices- love or fear. Choose love,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/you-are-ready-and-able-to-do-beautiful-things-in-this-world-you-will/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [“Every decision you make in life will stem from one of two options: love or fear. Choose love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-caligiuri/every-decision-you-make-in-life-will-stem-from-one-of-two-options/) [Ross Caligiuri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-caligiuri/) ## More by Niccolò Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolò Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Fear quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [“That horrible stinging sensation returned, the muscles behind my eyes straining as the first tear began to fall. “I’m scared, too. For eighteen months…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-ashley/that-horrible-stinging-sensation-returned-the-muscles-behind-my-eyes/) [Devon Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-ashley/) > [“...Often that which most we fear births the resolve that spurs us on to altitudes we could not have achieved, had we continued walking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-t-anderson/often-that-which-most-we-fear-births-the-resolve-that-spurs-us-on-to/) [M.T. 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