the great Machiavelli question. I say it's better to be feared

If you're feared then that means you're seen as a threat, and you'll be ridden of as soon as possible. As soon as you lose the leverage and power that made you feared, you'll be nothing.

With love, even if you lose all your power, you have the chance of recouping as you have the support of the people. You don't have to worry about public order, disorder, etc.

If one is going to say "If you have absolute fear, then nobody will dare go against you", then you must apply that extreme and too good to be true logic to love (If you had absolute love, then nobody will go against you). You cannot say that with fear everyone will be afraid, whereas with love, only a few will. That's selective. If there are some people who aren't blinded by fear, then they would be able to rationally take you out of power when they can.

No man deserves to be feared as a god. Our bodies are frail, and we can die by so many ways naturally. No man is infallible, omniscient, or omnipotent.

But then again, nobody really deserves to be loved... as no man is omni-benevolent...
=============================
Caesar rose to power by love, and was brought down by fear.

both, personality cult ftw

Couldn't you be both? Loved by some, hated by others? I think that describes every person in history.

To rule by fear is to be ruled by fear. What is a life lived in terror. What good is abandoning ones own ideals. What reward awaits those that are despised. The truth is to rule through fear one must sacrifice everything of worth. One must sacrifice love, serenity, hope, and most of all their humanity. It is a fools bargain. I can not do it any more justice then this wonderful piece of theater.

Being feared gives you Sith Lightning and being loved gives you a crappy beam that blows up cars.

So, feared.

People can fear and love you at the same time. Love you because they fear you

i always dreamt to make love with a girl who fears me.

lmao

yup its better to be feared.

FEARED.....everone hates me....|D AND IM ALRIGH!

Loved i guess.