There's a section in Machiavelli where he says you should make sure people fear you, and make them love you, but never ever fuck around and let them hate you. If they fear you they'll do as they're told, if they love you they'll help you. But if they hate you they'll destroy themselves just for a chance to spit in your face and there's no way to really defend youtself from people who have committed themselves to destroying you even at the cost of their life, health, wealth, whatever.

I think about that all. The. Time.