.
Machiavelli does not talk about what is good or bad, moral or immoral he talks about what is harmful or useful to the prince. He feels that it is necessary for the prince to go beyond "properly human means" when acting in the political realm and that it is not useful for the prince to keep his word because he will have to deal with men who "are treacherous and would not keep their promises to you" and because of this it would not be prudent for the prince to keep his promises to them if "such fidelity would damage him" . .
When Machiavelli advises that "a ruler must know well how to imitate beasts as well as employing properly human means" he is asserting that a prince must be able to adapt to any situation, any circumstance or change in fortune that comes his way. Machiavelli feels that when "properly human means" will not suffice, it is particularly useful to "imitate beats" especially to emulate the fox and the lion: .
"for the lion is liable to be trapped, whereas the fox cannot ward off wolves. One needs, then, to be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten away wolves. Those who rely merely upon a lion's strength do not understand matters" . .
However just as important as his ability to assume these two natures is his ability to disguise the fact that he is doing so. The prince must be able to become whatever is useful and necessary while keeping certain appearances, which are vital to retaining his power. Machiavelli insists that the prince should seem "exceptionally merciful, trustworthy, upright, humane and devout" and says further that the prince "need not actually posses all the above mentioned qualities, but he must certainly seem to" . .
While it is important to keep up a certain image in order to be held in a favorable light by the people, Machiavelli maintains that it is better to be feared than loved .
"Men are less hesitant about offending or harming a ruler who makes himself loved than one who inspires fear for love is sustained by a bond of gratitude but fear is sustained by dread of punishment" .
