Machiavelli says a ruler is better to be feared instead of being loved (43, 44, and 45). A man's priority is thinking about himself rather than caring about others, and a man is always thinking about his own benefit and safe before thinking about others'. This Machiavelli's thought tells me his realistic view of humanity. His view of humanity makes my mind full of negative images of a man. However, the idea seems really fit in a ruler, whose land is always in danger of invasion from other nations, and whose life depends on his own army. Soldiers have to sacrifice their own lives for love or fear. Certainty of keeping soldiers fighting seems much higher with fear, because the soldiers are forced to die in a battlefield or by a punishment. They have a choice in either way, but they can die with dignity in the battlefield, not with disgrace.
             An interesting thing for me is that Machiavelli says that Fortune does not control everything existing, which is unchangeable by a man's power, but some level of that is controllable (66 and 68). A ruler must be the one who is able to overcome many difficulties, which is like a relationship with a woman. For example, I have to be able to wear a suit well if my girlfriend dress up for a dinner. I have to try everything possible to pick apples if she says that she wants to eat an apple on a tall tree. A woman is selfish and unpredictable, like a fortune is so. A ruler must satisfy his attractive woman. In my opinion, an important lesson from the idea is a ruler must see further away, predict every possibility that may occur, adopt or change himself attractively not to bore his woman, or not to let her, Fortune, go. He should not miss a chance without an effort. He could handle any situation if he prepared well before something happens.
             Machiavelli also talks about an importance of capability for a ruler (46 and 65). I think his mean of capability is any ability that a r...