. . .

“But above all things [prince] must keep his hands off the property of others, because men more quickly forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.” …. “A prince ought to inspire fear in such a way that, if he does not win love, he avoids hatred; because he can endure very well being feared while he is not hated, which will always be as long as he abstains from despoiling the property of his citizens, and from their women.” — – Niccolò Machiavelli, observing that the rule over men can be maintained only as long as their demonstrated interests are left alone.