--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Returning to the question of being feared…" description: "\"“Returning to the question of being feared or loved, I conclude that since men love at their own will and fear at the will of the prince, a wise prince..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_returning-to-the-question-of-being-feare_1847468.jpg" --- # Returning to the question of being feared or loved, I… ![“Returning to the question of being feared or loved, I conclude that since men love at their own will and fear at the will of the prince, a wise prince must build a foundation on what is his own, and not on what belongs to others.” quote by Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_returning-to-the-question-of-being-feare_1847468.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_returning-to-the-question-of-being-feare_1847468.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f8/niccolo-machiavelli-368_quote_returning-to-the-question-of-being-feare_1847468.jpg) > ““Returning to the question of being feared or loved, I conclude that since men love at their own will and fear at the will of the prince, a wise prince must build a foundation on what is his own, and not on what belongs to others.”” [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. A ruler should base authority on his own power, not on others' influence, because love is voluntary and fear is imposed. **In simple terms:** Rulers need self‑reliant power, not dependence on others. Key Takeaway Cultivate independent strength. Themes politics leadership power Mood strategic reflective Type political philosophical When to use this quote - governance - policy making - conflict resolution - public administration Key Concepts statecraft human nature legitimacy Questions to Reflect On - How can a leader balance fear and love? - What risks arise from depending on others? A Different Perspective Relying solely on personal power can alienate subjects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) ## Related quotes > [“Therefore, a wise prince must think of a method by which his citizens will need the state and himself at all times and in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-a-wise-prince-must-think-of-a-method-by-which-his-citizens/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [A prince who is not himself wise cannot be wisely advised. . . . Good advice depends on the shrewdness of the prince who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-prince-who-is-not-himself-wise-cannot-be-wisely-advised-good-advice/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Without doubt, princes become great when they overcome difficulties and hurdles put in their path. When fortune wants to advance a new prince... She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/without-doubt-princes-become-great-when-they-overcome-difficulties/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“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/) > [“Men are ‘ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, and greedy for gain. While you work for their benefit, they are completely yours,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-ungrateful-fickle-simulators-and-deceivers-avoiders-of-danger/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“It is better to be feared than to be loved, if you can not be both”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-better-to-be-feared-than-to-be-loved-if-you-can-not-be-both/) [Niccolò 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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Little girls fear being a princess that was never rescued but little boys fear being a prince that was too late.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/little-girls-fear-being-a-princess-that-was-never-rescued-but-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When everyone feels free to tell you the truth, respect for you dwindles… A wise prince should take another course: choose wise men for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/when-everyone-feels-free-to-tell-you-the-truth-respect-for-you/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Thus a wise prince will think of ways to keep his citizens of every sort and under every circumstance dependent on the state and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/thus-a-wise-prince-will-think-of-ways-to-keep-his-citizens-of-every/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“There are many who think a wise prince ought, when he has the chance, to foment astutely some enmity, so that by suppressing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-are-many-who-think-a-wise-prince-ought-when-he-has-the-chance/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“You got tired of waiting around for a worthy husband to present himself,” continued Gran Aischa, “so you went out, with your trusted raven,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-kingfisher/you-got-tired-of-waiting-around-for-a-worthy-husband-to-present/) [T. Kingfisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-kingfisher/) > [“Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/therefore-a-wise-prince-ought-to-adopt-such-a-course-that-his/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## 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 Feared quotes > [“He feared that by leaving her he would ruin her life - so he stayed, and did just that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/he-feared-that-by-leaving-her-he-would-ruin-her-life-so-he-stayed-and/) [Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. 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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/) > [“What all men fear is indeed to be feared;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lao-tzu/what-all-men-fear-is-indeed-to-be-feared/) [Lao Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lao-tzu/) > [He loved the people just as much as he feared and detested persons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-lewis/he-loved-the-people-just-as-much-as-he-feared-and-detested-persons/) [Sinclair Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-lewis/) > [Nothing is to be feared, only to be understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-swarbrick/nothing-is-to-be-feared-only-to-be-understood/) Kenneth Swarbrick > [“Here was a thing he feared: that this strange feeling in his heart-this palpably growing emptiness- would eventually kill him”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maggie-stiefvater/here-was-a-thing-he-feared-that-this-strange-feeling-in-his-heart/) [Maggie Stiefvater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maggie-stiefvater/) > [There is always a certain hour of the day and of the night when a man’s courage is at its lowest ebb, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/there-is-always-a-certain-hour-of-the-day-and-of-the-night-when-a-man/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [You are not wise enough to fear me as I should be feared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/you-are-not-wise-enough-to-fear-me-as-i-should-be-feared/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [You are an educated man. 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