vernment, whilst punishments inflicted by the prince affect only a few individuals.
This is above all true in respect to a new prince, who can scarcely avoid the reproach of cruelty, every new domination being replete with dangers. Thus Dido, in Virgil, excuses her severity, by the necessity to which she was reduced of maintaining the interests of a throne which she did not inherit from her ancestors.
Res dura et regni novitas me talia cogunt
There is not, however, any necessity for a prince to be afraid of his own shadow, nor that he should lend too ready an ear to terrifying tales which may be told him. He ought rather to be slow to believe, and to act without at any time neglecting the laws of prudence. There is a medium between a foolish security and an unreasonable distrut.
It has been asked whether it is better to be loved than feared, or feared than loved. I am of opinion that both are necessary; but as it is not an easy task to unite them, and we must determine on one or the other, I think the latter (to be feared) is the safest. Men, it must be allowed, are generally ungrateful, fickle, timid, dissembling, and self-interested; so much so, that confer on them benefit they are entirely your's; they offer you,
