--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since it is difficult to join them…" description: "\"Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.\" — Niccolo Machiavelli" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/niccolo-machiavelli-368_difficult_since-it-is-difficult-to-join-them-toget_3133828.jpg" --- # Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer… ![“Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/niccolo-machiavelli-368_difficult_since-it-is-difficult-to-join-them-toget_3133828.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/niccolo-machiavelli-368_difficult_since-it-is-difficult-to-join-them-toget_3133828.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4f/niccolo-machiavelli-368_difficult_since-it-is-difficult-to-join-them-toget_3133828.jpg) > “Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.” [Niccolo 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 when you cannot have both, because fear is more reliable. **In simple terms:** Fear is more reliable than love when you lack one. Key Takeaway Choose fear when you cannot guarantee love. Themes politics power leadership Mood cautious strategic Type political advice When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate management - personal relationships Key Concepts Machiavellianism human nature control Questions to Reflect On - Is fear sustainable long term? - Can love be cultivated later? A Different Perspective Fear can breed resentment and instability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared/) [Feared Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-loved-272304/) [Lacking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lacking/) [Safer Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safer-feared-904570/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) ## Related quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“It is safer to be feared than loved”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/machiavelli-the-prince-nookbook/it-is-safer-to-be-feared-than-loved/) [Machiavelli The Prince NOOKbook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/machiavelli-the-prince-nookbook/) > [“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 safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-much-safer-to-be-feared-than-loved-because-love-is-preserved-by/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Because fear and ove can hardly co exist together,if we must chose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-fear-and-ove-can-hardly-co-exist-together-if-we-must-chose/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [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/) > [The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. 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