Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince

People are not born all-knowing. However, people are born with certain dispositions that can ultimately help determine their future. A newborn baby does not know right and wrong. As a child, people learn these things; things like values, morals, and guidelines for life. They learn from their parents and/or who they live with and spend the most time around. For example, the first time a child curses it is usually because he or she heard someone else say it, not to be rebellious or intentionally bad. Sometimes things need to be learned the hard way, but without direction and nurturing to build people up and pick people up when they fall, they would go down a terrible road. If someone grows up where he or she does not have good influences or direction in the

Respect is not demanded, it is earned. When a leader has earned respect, it shows he is worthy of it. Peoples’ response to a leader, is an indicator of the type of leadership they have. According to Machiavelli, author of “The Prince,” “friendships that are obtained by payments, and not by greatness or nobility of mind, may indeed be earned, but they are not secured… they turn against you” (188). If a leader is too frivolous or too caught up in wanting to be loved, the people will trample over him causing a great deal of chaos. However, a leader should not be hated. The people should have a healthy fear towards him. That is why Machiavelli answers the question, is it better to be feared or loved as follows, “one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved” (188). All in all, respect is the most important thing because it is the response of the people to one’s leadership. If a leader is respected and his people are loyal to him, it shows that his people look up to him and see him as the great leader he portrays himself to