"A king who rules with justice and compassion will be loved by his people and feared by his enemies"

The statement distills a principle of durable power: legitimacy at home begets devotion, and legitimacy displayed abroad inspires caution. Justice gives a ruler credibility. When laws are applied impartially and power is restrained by rules, people feel protected rather than preyed upon. They come to trust institutions, comply voluntarily, and offer loyalty that does not depend on surveillance or coercion. Justice tames arbitrariness, reduces corruption, and channels ambition into productive ends, creating prosperity that further entrenches the ruler’s standing.

Compassion complements justice by humanizing authority. It listens to grievances, alleviates suffering, and moderates punishment with mercy when mercy serves the common good. People do not love power merely for being fair; they love it when it recognizes their dignity. Compassion signals that the ruler’s aims include the welfare of the governed, not just the preservation of the throne. This nurtures civic pride and a willingness to sacrifice in times of crisis, because citizens feel they are partners in a shared enterprise rather than subjects under a yoke.

The same pairing of justice and compassion also projects strength outward. Enemies fear not cruelty but cohesion. A ruler backed by a unified, confident populace, thriving institutions, and a reputation for measured resolve is harder to isolate, subvert, or outlast. Compassion does not weaken deterrence; it reinforces it by proving the ruler does not act from panic or caprice. Justice clarifies red lines and guarantees consistent response, making threats credible. Allies gravitate to such stability, and adversaries calculate higher costs.

By contrast, tyranny breeds fear at home and contempt abroad. A ruler who relies on terror corroding trust invites intrigue and emboldens opponents who anticipate collapse. The union of justice and compassion avoids this trap, converting authority into moral capital. Love domestically and fear internationally describe the same phenomenon: power rooted in legitimacy that is both resilient and formidable.