Is it better to be loved or feared?

Question

This question recently came up in an essay I have to write and I'm not quite sure yet. What do you guys believe?

witchylittlegirl · Accepted Answer

Honestly just personally I would rather everyone in the world fear me then love me and thats how I look at that question because i can always make a least one person not fear me then i would have a least one person to talk to and even if I couldnt i got animals and music and food so like who cares

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

If people love you, they'll do stuff for you. That's also true if they fear you, but if they fear you, you won't get as much affection and positive bonding

Anpu23 · Accepted Answer

Machiavelli says it is better to be both, but as you cannot control their love, you can certainly control their fear. So it is the only option available.

Aiko_E_Lara · Accepted Answer

You're always feared if you're being loved but you can't guarantee being loved if you're feared.

UnknownReflection · Answer

In between.

Being loved is the most important. Being loved provides you a share of compassion and community which results in security and potential loyalty from the surrounding. Being feared however, it means everyone are your enemies and you don't have space to make a mistake. Everyone are waiting for the chance to take you down like the hungry wolfs who are waiting for their fellow to fall asleep in order to eat them. Being loved, you have the luxury of positive manipulation. If you want to, you have space to keep everything smooth and going even if you are doing dirty work behind the scene regardless of the aim. An intelligent leadership takes that into account. When people loves you, it means, there is a chance that you are fairly trusted, you are get to be listened and people can be vulnerable toward you. Therefore, you can set everything accordingly. You can pursuit as you wish and no one would suspect you because of your image. The cover of being loved is a sparkling luxury that keeps your hands open to be secretly dirty when necessary and be protected by the angelic image you have created for the people. I'm not speaking of being morally wrong and being loved wrongly. But being loved is a safe space which gives you multiple choices of behaviors, being feared, is restricted and upfront. You know you have no fan and no one will back you up when things gets complicated.

But i've said in between. It means, being loved is fairly more important, but you need to make sure people will be afraid of you when they need to.

Mollynotgemma · Answer

They come hand in hand... ‘keep your enemies closer is a saying that sums it up... sadly people tend to fear the person most like them and love the person that they don’t necessarily respect and can control in a way!
Love is fear! Fear is love.
We will show love for our enemies out of fear!

Bananaman177 · Answer

It's better to have it whichever way you prefer.

Some people don't want to be loved, it makes them sick.

Some people don't want to be feared, that makes them sick.

Instead of following a blanket rule, you should live your life for the goals you personally want to achieve, not go for one or the other because fucking Plato and Socrates said so.

Wharvey98 · Answer

As a leader you should be loved and feared. You will never be able to make everyone love you and your policies. It’s not possible to be universally loved. Thus as a leader you should strive to achieve the love of the majority of your subjects, and be feared enough by the rest that no one is willing to step out of line.

Soteris · Answer

I would much rather be feared, simply because being loved by so many people would be a large burden on me. At least if people fear me I can have some freedom.

serious · Answer

Better to be loved. That's the best thing. Second best would be neutral, like people only respect you but they don't love you nor fear you as a person.

mavric15 · Answer

Feared will make it so people will think twice before messing with you but if you are loved then people will die for you.

HungLikeAHorsefly · Answer

It's far better to be loved, but not always possible. Especially if you're not capable of demonstrating love for someone other than yourself.

Agape93 · Answer

Machiavelli lol “a ruler should always err on the side of inspiring terror, as that is what ultimately keeps a population in check”

WhiteShoulder · Answer

Loved. But I wouldn't mind being feared by my enemies.

NickiB · Answer

It's better to be loved.  I don't know why anyone would want to strike fear in someone.  It's a horrible way to live life or rule someone.

The_White_Queen · Answer

Loved because if you are only feared at the first sign of weakness they will cut your throat.

SexyAshh · Answer

Equal mixture of both. Like know i love you but won't fail to snap and ruin your will to live if you cross me.

Amanda269 · Answer

Loving people wants the best for you, while fearfull people would love to see you gone.

SqurrielMaster · Answer

I'd say it's 50/50, people will take advantage of all the love but to be just feared there is no true love there. So that's why I say equal parts are perfect.

Kabluie · Answer

I used to say feared, but love is better option. Too much fear means you never get to love.

13IsALuckyNumber · Answer

If you’re loved people actually care about you, if you’re feared people are only following you because they pretty much have to.

Lightning8 · Answer

It depends on what the end goal is. Loved if you want connection and compassion. Fear if you want boundaries and production.

Deathraider · Answer

It’s good to be both, but Machiavelli noticed that if you had to choose as a leader between one of the two, being feared is better. If you aren’t feared, people could manipulate you or worse attack you.

loveslongnails · Answer

Being feared will eventually get you hurt by someone who isn't afraid of you.

bolverk · Answer

Loved preferable, but if fear gets the job done I'm OK with that too.

IIGrifterSixII · Answer

If you want to be someone of worth. If you are building a legacy. If a small life isn't enough for you. You must be feared. Your will must be unquestionable. My will their hands

ryanbraun · Answer

Loved. If everyone fears then nobody has your back, if everyone loves you then everyone has your back

mermaidia_lol · Answer

If people truly and wholeheartedly love you, then they'd fear hurting or disappointing you.

Lunatic1 · Answer

My preference is to be loved by those I care about, and feared by those I don't.

ChefCurry · Answer

Both. But more towards fear. Fear keeps people in line. While love can fade.

FýrdracaDócincel · Answer

Feared. Nowadays people run from and hate what's good for them.. so they need to be made to fear the source instead.

DevylasArsaukas76 · Answer

better to be feared but I'm a Leo so I get both haha

MoscowMitch · Answer

Joan of Arc was loved. We all know what happened to her.

BrotherFrost · Answer

I would like people to be scared of how much they love me.

DDpsy · Answer

It's much better to be feared that to be considered weak and harmless. Love and fear are not mutually exclusive.

name_is_eric · Answer

Feared, people dont mess with whom they fear. Being loved is another term for 'I ain't going to do shit for you, because I know you won't do shit'.

UncleBumbleF_K · Answer

In between. Most of us both love and fear our parents.

Liam_Hayden · Answer

Loved. If you are feared the minute you suffer any weakness, BAM.

Iron_Man · Answer

You tell me Miss Potato

ItsAMeA · Answer

They aren't mutually exclusive. If you love someone you will be afraid of hurting them.

nomadroamer · Answer

Loved giving and receiving  there's no better feeling than making someones soul shine as bright as your own

Ultrainstinctman · Answer

Feared it's the Ultimate form of respect

loginfailed · Answer

Loved but feared when only needed

WhiteSandBeach · Answer

I’d rather be loved.

AmeerX · Answer

I know where Machiviali thought came from 😂

Exorcist_Rampage · Answer

Being loved is better.

Gedaria · Answer

Loved far nicer...

Clarity01 · Answer

Loved

Annie12234 · Answer

Feared

Anonymous · Answer

Feared

hafinjun · Answer

Both would be ideal

Princeofaljazeeera · Answer

Feared

red_knight · Answer

Loved beats all

artemis77 · Answer

loved always

Is it better to be loved or feared?

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