Machiavelli is massively misunderstood. 'It is better to be feared than loved' is not the real message to be taken from that chapter. A different phrasing woul

Machiavelli is massively misunderstood. 'It is better to be feared than loved' is not the real message to be taken from that chapter. A different phrasing would be "you are better to have a promise from another for which you can compel fulfilment, than a promise for which you can't compel fulfilment". If someone promises you something out of love, and they do not deliver, you have no power to compel them to fulfil their obligation, and so you are left with an empty promise. If someone promises you something out of fear, and they don't deliver, you can use the thing they fear to compel fulfilment, and receive that which was promised. It's by no means saying that in all circumstances you should aim to be feared - and it explicitly distinguishes being feared from being hated. "Returning to the question of being feared or loved, I come to the conclusion that, men loving according to their own will and fearing according to that of the prince, a wise prince should establish himself on that which is in his own control and not in that of others; he must endeavour only to avoid hatred, as is noted."