The Prince

Machiavelli went on to discuss the strategies of ruling by fear. He stated,

"Men are less hesitant about offending or harming a ruler who makes himself loved than one who inspires fear. Machiavelli's Prince is political brilliance intertwined with ruthlessness. This means calls for an exponential amount of what the ends is trying to prevent. This was strongly displayed in a chapter concentrating on "How rulers should keep their promises. It was conveyed in his writings that even minor power is more useful if it can be maintained, where major power that cannot be maintained is a mere missed opportunity. For love is sustained by a bond of gratitude which, because men are excessively self-interested, is broken whenever they see a chance to benefit themselves. Telling of the centaur raising the likes of Chiron and Achilles he wrote, "Having a mentor who was half-beast and half-man signifies that a ruler needs to use both natures, and that one without the other is not effective. " Using a combination of Greek mythology and discussing animals metaphorically he first spoke of the centaur. It seems to be a literal formula for the attaining and maintaining of power. Those who rely merely upon a lions strength do not understand matters. ining it for it can be as easily lost as gained. But fear is sustained by a dread of punishment that is always effective.