Part 4/10:
Being liked is fleeting; respect endures. The conventional pursuit of likability—being constantly available, agreeable, and considerate—weakens your authority. True power comes from setting non-negotiable boundaries and earning respect, not attempting to earn approval.
Machiavelli advised that fear is a more reliable form of control than love—not to suggest tyranny, but to emphasize the importance of being formidable. Respect is rooted in strength; therefore, being a person whose boundaries are respected makes you more influential and less vulnerable to manipulation.