Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

Governing a group of people is difficult since there are two perspectives on how a ruler should act towards his subjects. One view is expressed in Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, where he shares his belief that a ruler should “take more care for the welfare of his people than for his own” (Allen, 438). Another view is enforced in Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince, where he expresses his opinion that a ruler should be feared, not loved. When governing people, Niccolo Machiavelli’s view is more realistic and effective because it allows the ruler to maintain power over his subjects. However, Sir Thomas More’s view is more ethical since it allows the subjects to be served by their ruler and to develop loyalty towards their community and the ruler. Therefore, when governing a group of people, the ruler must be feared and maintain power while also strengthening the relationship and his subjects. Niccolo Machiavelli’s view of being feared and not loved is reinforced with the idea that the governed will obey if the ruler implements punishment upon them. He states that there are “two methods of fighting, the one by

He also argues that a ruler must “[train] his subjects rightly” and “prevent rather than allow the spread of activities which he will have to punish afterwards” (Allen, 438). Although these arguments are valid, it is difficult for a ruler to train his subjects to be good and not commit crimes because, as Niccolo Machiavelli stated, “men in general...are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain” (Allen, 448). Therefore, in order for a ruler to keep the community united and under his control, he must follow the style of government expressed by Niccolo Machiavelli and not Sir Thomas