--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The answer is, of course, that it would…" description: "\"The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will fi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_answers_the-answer-is-of-course-that-it-would-be_2146315.jpg" --- # The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both… ![“The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_answers_the-answer-is-of-course-that-it-would-be_2146315.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_answers_the-answer-is-of-course-that-it-would-be_2146315.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a6/niccolo-machiavelli-368_answers_the-answer-is-of-course-that-it-would-be_2146315.jpg) > “The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved.” [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. Leaders often must choose between being loved or feared; fear offers more reliable security when love is scarce. **In simple terms:** Fear is safer than love for leaders. Key Takeaway Prioritize respect and authority. Themes power politics security Mood cautious strategic Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political leadership - corporate management - personal relationships Key Concepts Machiavellianism human nature leadership Questions to Reflect On - Is it possible to be both loved and feared? - What are the costs of ruling by fear? A Different Perspective Fear can breed resentment and rebellion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Being loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-loved/) [Choose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choose/) [Compelled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compelled/) [Courses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courses/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared/) [Feared Loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-loved-272304/) [Feared Rarely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feared-rarely-4492698/) [Greater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greater/) [Loved Feared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loved-feared-1121178/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [Is it better to be loved or feared?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/is-it-better-to-be-loved-or-feared/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [ “... one would like to be both \[loved and feared\], but as it is difficult to combine both love and fear, if one has… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-would-like-to-be-both-loved-and-feared-but-as-it-is-difficult-to/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-better-to-be-feared-than-loved-if-you-cannot-be-both/) [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/) > [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 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/) > [Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/since-it-is-difficult-to-join-them-together-it-is-safer-to-be-feared/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More by Niccolo 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 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. 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