Niccolò Machiavelli emphasized that “one should be both feared and loved, but since it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved…because love he is held back by a chain of obligations which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purpose; but the fear is fueled by the fear of punishment that never goes away. He felt that a true leader must be cunning and deceitful, winning the hearts of his people through power and influence. If he couldn't like it, he could at least get away with knowing that he had intimidated those beneath him into submission. However reckless or cruel it may seem, Machiavelli's argument cannot be easily countered. Historically, many dictators and democratic leaders have almost always wanted to be loved, while leaders responsible for maintaining law and order by force – such as corporate managers, department heads, police – want to be feared. In some respects it is impossible to have one without the other. Being loved would imply weakness in one's leadership; being feared would lead one to assume that a ruler is heartless and indifferent to his people and their well-being. With too much love comes the desire for a more respectable and terrifying figure that can never be overthrown or exploited, and vice versa. It is human habit to want what we cannot have, as the proverbial grass of politics will always seem greener on the other side. If one were to choose to be feared or loved, the best solution would be to instill fear in one's constituents. . A weak and beloved leader can be usurped by those with less pure intentions. However, what he fears will have a much greater and lasting effect on his people and/or his followers, frightening them into order. With...... middle of the sheet ......y for your country, state or city. However unethical, this is necessary for the progress and continuation of the area, and can only be achieved through respect gained through fear. By tying the church to the government, people expected the government to behave morally and abide by God's rules, but often, an entirely moral ruler will be overthrown. Some might interpret this as something entirely different, such as thinking that Machiavelli believes that the ends justify the means, that a leader must lie to the people, and that a ruler must rule by force. In reality Machiavelli means nothing of the sort. He says there are times when the common good outweighs the means and morality of a ruler's actions. He also says that you cannot be loved by everyone, so try to be loved and feared at the same time, but between the two, choose to be feared.