Fear is an element of human nature that cannot be changed; fear has always existed within every human being and always will. The fear of physical pain, fear of the loss of something, fear of commitment, or fear of a ramification. Fear is a force much greater than love. A feared leader is much stronger than a loved one, fear will prevail over love in almost every situation, and fear can even cause you to betray your love.
A leader who is feared by his people has much more control than a leader who is loved by his people. From the beginning of structured governments hundreds of years ago, leaders and government rulers have discovered that fear is what will keep you in power and prevent chaos in your country. The book, The Prince, written by the famous Italian political philosopher Nicolo Machiavelli explains this in great detail. In one of his best-known quotes, he says, "Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved." A society with a ruler that is feared is more organized and peaceful than one with a ruler that is loved. One could argue that in 1984 the people of Oceania love Big Brother, yet he still maintains strict control. But it only appears as if the people love him, Big Brother and the government of Oceania are actually ruling by fear and manipulation. Fear is what stops the people from doing things that are against the government's best interest. Being loved by your people will not prevent them from robbing and looting and breaking the law, if they do not fear any punishment or consequence, there will be nothing at all stopping them. Also, a leader who is loved can often be perceived as weak or vulnerable, while a feared leader can manage his sovereignty better and maintain power for a longer period of time. .
In 1984, the totalitarian government and the abstract figure of Big Brother are able to control a society of millions of people, using fear.
