QuoteProject
Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.
Lee Kuan Yew
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that the fear of authority can sometimes be more powerful than love or admiration in terms of influence.

Lee Kuan Yew's quote reflects a belief that in positions of leadership, the ability to instill fear can be more consequential than being loved or respected. This perspective aligns with Machiavelli's ideas on power, suggesting that leaders may find meaning and purpose through fear, as it commands respect and authority, even if it lacks the warmth of love.

Themes

LeadershipFearPowerInfluenceAuthority

In practice

Example use cases

This quote could be used in a leadership seminar to discuss the dynamics of power.

More from Lee Kuan Yew

China is a vast, disparate country; there is no alternative to strong central power.
Lee Kuan YewRead
I can feel the gradual decline of energy and vitality. And I mean generally, every year, when you know you are not on the same level as last year. But that's life.
Lee Kuan YewRead
Political reform need not go hand in hand with economic liberalization.. I hold unconventional views about this.. I do not believe if you are a libertarian, full of diverse opinions, full of competing ideas in the market place, full of sound and fury, therefore you will succeed.
Lee Kuan YewRead
The human being is an unequal creature. That is a fact. And we start off with the proposition. All the great religions, all the great movements, all the great political ideology, say let us make the human being as equal as possible. In fact, he is not equal, never will be.
Lee Kuan YewRead
They say, oh, let’s have multiparty politics. Let’s have different parties change and be in charge of the Government. Is it that simple? You vote in a Division Three government, not a Division One government, and the whole economy will just subside within three, four years. Finished.
Lee Kuan YewRead
America's greatest long-term influence on China comes from playing host to the thousands of students who come from China each year, some of the ablest Chinese scholars and scientists. They will be the most powerful agents for change in China.
Lee Kuan YewRead

Similar quotes

What I learned at LucasArts was, you don't make your bets on ideas: ideas are cheap. You make your bets on people.
Tim SchaferRead
The sublimity of administration consists in knowing the proper degree of power that should be exerted on different occasions.
Baron De MontesquieuRead
Execution is the ability to mesh strategy with reality, align people with goals, and achieve the promised results.
Lawrence BossidyRead
We allow no geniuses around our Studio.
Walt DisneyRead
When you start with Super 8, you are everything. You're the DP, the sound man, the effects guy. And what I started understanding, by working for other people, is that the best type of director is someone who rose through the ranks.
Guillermo Del ToroRead
If longevity is the best index to measure a company, a basic requirement is the ability of the corporation to generate new and new leaders.
N. R. Narayana MurthyRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.