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Full Idea
Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries.
Gist of Idea
People are vengeful, so be generous to them, or destroy them
Source
Niccolo Machiavelli (The Prince [1513], Ch.3)
Book Ref
Machiavelli,Niccolo: 'The Prince, selections from Discourses', ed/tr. Plamenatz,J [Fontana 1972], p.62
A Reaction
This sounds like good advice, and works quite well in school teaching too. It seems like advice drawn from the growth of the Roman Empire, rather than from dealing with sophisticated and educated people.
| 19813 | All legislators invoke God in support of extraordinary laws, because their justification is not obvious [Machiavelli] |
| 7126 | Rulers should preserve the foundations of religion, to ensure good behaviour and unity [Machiavelli] |
| 7486 | Machiavelli emancipated politics from religion [Machiavelli, by Watson] |
| 6309 | The principle foundations of all states are good laws and good armies [Machiavelli] |
| 7127 | If men are good you should keep promises, but they aren't, so you needn't [Machiavelli] |
| 6306 | People are vengeful, so be generous to them, or destroy them [Machiavelli] |
| 6305 | To retain a conquered state, wipe out the ruling family, and preserve everything else [Machiavelli] |
| 6307 | A desire to conquer, and men who do it, are always praised, or not blamed [Machiavelli] |
| 6308 | A sensible conqueror does all his harmful deeds immediately, because people soon forget [Machiavelli] |