Fear and love are two very powerful emotions that humans feel. Since both are such strong emotions they are used for power. There is a quote by Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi that says, “Power is of two kinds. One obtained through the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent than the one derived from fear of punishment.” This quote holds a lot of truth. There are two types power and although both of them can be effective, power through love is far greater.
When people look back in their lives, most remember all the good times that they had: happy memories, loving friends and family, and all the good aspects of life. They try to remember what made their life worthwhile.
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The difference, however, is the feelings behind those emotions. Fear of punishment can forcibly change how a person responds to a situation. Following love goes with what that person believes. This is because when a people follow love, they are following it because the agree, not because they are afraid of it. Following fear can lead to a person going against what she believes to avoid negative consequences. An ideal example of when fear appeared to trump love is in Harry Potter. Draco Malfoy followed in his parents’ footsteps and became a death-eater. As the plot continues Draco struggles with the tasks asked of him, but he still continues them. This is because he feared what Voldemort might do to him if he did not complete them. At one point Voldemort asks Draco to kill Dumbledore. He did not want to, but Voldemort had that power over him. The power of fear controlled him. The reason that the power of fear is not greater than love, although it can easily control someone, is it can only take a power over someone for so long. By the end of the series, Draco has left Voldemort’s side. What Draco truly wanted ended up taking over what he feared. Fear can only last so long, when love lasts. Power through love is