Introduction

Machiavelli was a controversial writer (to some) who suggested that being a Nice Guy™ as a Prince would lead to your becoming beta and eventually falling into ruin.

We're just going to confirm what he said with this post.

 

Body

 

http://www.bartleby.com/36/1/17.html

 

A Prince should therefore disregard the reproach of being thought cruel where it enables him to keep his subjects united and obedient. For he who quells disorder by a very few signal examples will in the end be more merciful than he who from too great leniency permits things to take their course.

 

In effect he's saying you must punish a Shit Test early so that you steer your woman / slave / beta / child away from bad behavior. If you aren't willing to punish and appear cruel you will fall into a beta perception.

 

And here comes in the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

 

Fear is inspired in the woman / slave / beta / child by your act of applying punishment. That punishment might be very subtle. Maybe as a parent a child misbehaves and is grounded or their allowance is taken away. The punishment can be very inventive too where you simply take away something they like.

 

Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated.

 

This is where Agree and Amplify is a good strategy for punishment. If the offense is minor you can mock your woman / slave / beta / child and this will be enough to give punishment while giving a light hearted veil over your cruelty. What your subtext is about is punishment, but you do it so that you aren't hated. However, there are times when the offense is major and a more direct verbal or physical response is required. If in ancient times someone drew a sword against you it was necessary to strike a blow against them.

 

Conclusion

  • Being loved is great, but cannot be your goal.

  • Cruelty in the form of punishment is often necessary.

  • Avoid excessive and unwarranted punishment because that will make you hated.

  • Passing a Shit Test involves punishing offenses.