According to Machiavelli, a prince must be cruel and calculated in order to maintain power. He counseled the monarch that it is preferable to be feared than liked, and that compassion should be utilized only when it serves his interests. Machiavelli's "The Prince" is regarded as a pact on how to attain and maintain power. Machiavelli wrote that one must be strong but also kind if one wants to gain and keep the love of one's subjects. In conclusion, a prince must be cruel and calculating in order to maintain power.