Connor Burne

Machiavelli’s attitude toward human nature is rooted in realism. Machiavelli understands that it is in human nature to desire to reject authority. Humans are inherently free creatures and therefore any attempt to subjugate a human’s freedom is met with strong resistance. As a result of this, it is nearly impossible for a ruler to be loved by the people. The people will always harbor some negative sentiments toward their ruler, which at any time could be exploited to instigate an overthrow of the ruler. Because the ruler is loved, and not hated, the people are more likely to be willing to act upon their disapproval and rise against the ruler. They do not fear violent reprisals or truly any negative consequence from their treasonous actions. A beloved ruler will not be freed from the fear and risk of being overthrown.

Machiavelli claims the best balance of fear and love is to be loved by one’s subjects while feared by one’s peers/nobles. While the loving subjects may still hold things against their ruler, they will be unwilling to act without the support of their noble leaders. If the nobles are fearful of their ruler, they will endure that ruler, rather than attempt to remove the ruler. This is because a large conspiracy cannot be efficiently undertaken under the wary eye of a feared ruler. The majority of the nobles would become more concerned about their own wellbeing and maintaining their good standing with the ruler, the risks of attempting to overthrow the ruler would be far outweighed by the risks of being caught conspiring against a feared ruler.

In direct regard to human nature, Machiavelli’s fear over love strategy is simply easier to carry out. Because of a human’s natural tendency to reject authority, the people are predisposed to disliking their ruler. The ruler can fairly easily seize upon this dislike and use it as a basing ground for inspiring fear. It is easier for humans to grow fearful of what they dislike, than come to love what they dislike.  

Machiavelli does not mean the people should hate their ruler. The ideal Machiavellian ruler is feared only in a particular sense. The people should be afraid of the consequences of breaking the decrees of their ruler, but not generally fearful of the ruler. The ruler should not strive to be tyrannical or oppressive, but rather just. The fear should be concentrated on the swiftness, tenacity, and violence of action found within the ruler’s justice.