Aquinas and Machiavelli on the Qualities of a Ruler

For this reason, a virtuous man with strength of soul should despise glory, and in fact, life itself, for the sake of justice (Aquinas Kingship extract 8). Therefore, Human glory is an unsuitable reward for a ruler. Instead what a ruler ought to aim is to look to God for his reward (Aquinas Kingship extract 9). Aquinas made an allegory saying that the same as the minister look to his lord for a reward of his ministry, the ruler should look to God for a reward of his command (Aquinas Kingship extract 9). According to Aquinas blessedness is the ultimate end of desire and the perfect good. Hence, there is nothing in earth that can bless the ruler in such way. For this reason, a ruler should not aim for a mere earthly reward, which are small and temporal, but for eternal goods, which last forever (Aquinas Kingship extract 9).
             Aquinas share with Aristotle the idea that human beings are political and social animals (Canning 2003, p.114). Based on this argument he developed the idea that all men have the need of a friendship. Aquinas claims that friendship brings virtuous men together as one, preserves and promotes virtue. Hence, friendship promotes a greater virtue, which is love (Aquinas Kingship extract 11). Aquinas said that love makes the king's subjects to be bound to him even to the point that they could expose themselves to any danger for their sake (Aquinas Kingship extract 11). For instance, When Julius Caesar realized that some of his soldiers had died; he neither cut his hair nor his beard until he avenged them (Aquinas Kingship extract 11). This gesture of love made their soldiers to be united and loyal to him. Indeed, when they were captured, they had saved their lives if they would have raised arms against Julius Caesar, yet they did not, because they were exceptionally united to him by the bond of love (Aquinas Kingship extract 11). On the contrary, Aquinas mentions that rulers that cannot show friendship and love for their subjects and just control everything through fear, they should neither expect being supported nor loved for their subjects (Aquinas Kingship extract 11).