Question

Read the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. They suggest that a ruler who is feared can retain power, while a ruler who is hated is less likely to do so

Explanation:

Read the passage from chapter 17 of The Prince.

Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; because he can endure very well being feared whilst he is not hated, which will always be as long as he abstains from the property of his citizens and subjects and from their women. But when it is necessary for him to proceed against the life of someone, he must do it on proper justification and for manifest cause, but above all things he must keep his hands off the property of others, because men more quickly forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. Besides, pretexts for taking away the property are never wanting; for he who has once begun to live by robbery will always find pretexts for seizing what belongs to others; but reasons for taking life, on the contrary, are more difficult to find and sooner lapse. But when a prince is with his army, and has under control a multitude of soldiers, then it is quite necessary for him to disregard the reputation of cruelty, for without it he would never hold his army united or disposed to its duties.

Answer 2

The correct answer is A. They suggest that a ruler who is feared can retain power, while a ruler who is hated is less likely to do so.

Explanation:

In the passage presented, Machiavelli explains the way the prince needs to inspire fear rather than hate "Nevertheless a prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred". According to him, this is necessary because the prince can govern if there is fear but not hate, about this, Machiavelli states the prince should never take away property because this would lead to hate form people; however, if necessary he can take life, although he recommends doing this due to proper reasons and without creating a reputation of cruelty as otherwise hate will emerge and this is not advisable.

According to this, Machiavelli proposes it is good people fear rather than hate a ruler and therefore the words feared and hatred in the passage "suggest that a ruler who is feared can retain power, while a ruler who is hated is less likely to do so".