A cruel prince may be better for his subjects in the long run.
Explanation:
This is the statement that best summarizes the passage because the author describes a context in which an acceptable amount of cruelty is desirable. According to the author, this is the case when a Prince utilizes cruelty to punish a subject who has broken the law or violated the norms of the justice system.
By enforcing the law with a heavy hand, future disorders and calamities can be avoided that would be far worse for the people in general. In the case of the cruel execution of a criminal, few people would protest the measure.
