"Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared"

This quote by Niccolo Machiavelli recommends that individuals should either be treated with compassion and regard, or completely damaged. He argues that if somebody is merely upset, they will seek revenge, but if they are significantly injured, they will be not able to strike back. Therefore, the injury caused need to be so severe that it eliminates the possibility of vengeance. This quote shows Machiavelli's belief that power must be used to preserve control and order, and that those who oppose it ought to be handled harshly. It also recommends that those in power needs to know the repercussions of their actions, and ought to not underestimate the capacity for retaliation. Ultimately, this quote acts as a cautioning to those in power to be mindful of how they treat others, and to be knowledgeable about the prospective consequences of their actions.