A prominent theme in Chapter 13 was the relationship between power and fear. Many believe fear is necessary to enjoy power, but Hitchens provides numerous viewpoints on the issue. On page 87, he says "These mammals are also unnecessarily vain in the extreme, and often wish to be liked almost as much as they desire to be feared". This shows how many people want others to be afraid of them so that they can be in a position of power. Machiavelli said the same thing in "The Prince". He believed it was better to be feared than loved because no one will dare take advantage of you, and thus you will be superior. Rulers like Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini used Machiavelli's words to institute fear to the public so that they could rise to power.
Later in the chapter, however, Hitchens describes a leader who gained power without using fear. He gives us the story of Nelson Mandela, saying that when he was allowed to leave jail, Mandela refused to leave unless everyone else can leave and tyranny is "abolished". This is an example of a successful and influential man who would rather be loved than feared. Mandela never promoted violence or cruelty; he only every wanted peace and the betterment of humanity. His devotion to equality earned him the respect of the people, and therefore he earned power. This chapter shows two different ways people search for power; through fear or through love.
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