Upon this, one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Machiavelli argues that injuries done to men must be severe enough to prevent vengeance, as minor harms invite retaliation.
- In plain terms
- Hurt people badly enough that they cannot fight back, or not at all.
- What can you take from it?
- Eliminate the possibility of revenge when causing harm.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is it better to be feared or loved?
- When is total elimination of a threat necessary?
Another view
This approach risks creating lasting hatred even if immediate revenge is prevented.
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