In life, Is it easier to be feared or respected?

1. 67

   leroy64posted 13 years ago

   In life, Is it easier to be feared or respected?
   
   The people at the top leadership could be either feared or respected..  Stalin and Churchill are two extreme examples of what I am considering. 
   They had other qualities that helped in their rise to the top.  People who are not respected or feared are constantly proving themselves to everyone who comes along.
   
   For those who would bring up love, I will point out that both of my examples were both loved and hated by the people they led. Love made little difference.

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2. 59

   Jonesy0311posted 13 years ago

   Personally, I would much rather be respected. Not for any benevolent or moral reasons, but because I don't want to be looking over my shoulder. At least if you are widely respected, you are less likely to be assassinated; though it's not a guarantee. Also, if you are feared, people listen to you but your orders are not respected. No leader ever gives an order that is likely not to be followed, especially if the subordinates have no respect for your commands. Respect is much harder to obtain than fear, but it pays in dividends.

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3. 0

   Binaya.Ghimireposted 13 years ago

   It is easier to be feared though most of want to be respected. It takes lot of hardship to become respected, but your single bad behavior will prompt people to hate you.

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4. 0

   Temirahposted 13 years ago

   I agree with Jonesy0311 - it's easy to feared and respect is often hard won. 
   I'm not sure that people who aren't respected or feared need to prove themselves to everyone who comes along.  If they have enough SELF respect to be content in their own skin and in their own lives.
   Interesting question.

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5. 67

   Phil Plasmaposted 13 years ago

   I imagine people should either be fearfully respectful, or respectfully fearful. Either one should be easy enough.

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6. 67

   Nellieannaposted 13 years ago

   It's better - or suits me better - to be respected.  Absolutely.  It doesn't guarantee that one will be popular, of course.
   
   Either being feared or respected requires effort on one's own part.  The difference in results are that when one has earned respect, one can and will also easily respect oneself.  If one earns being feared, - one's own feelings toward the self may be quite otherwise, even self-doubtful.  Being worthy of respect means being non-dependent , whereas being feared requires others to give forth with the fear. Dependent, in other words.

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7. 61

   Merlin Fraserposted 13 years ago

   Remember Star Wars ?
   
   The path to the Darkside is always the easiest.
   
   Any idiot with a Big stick or a gun can be feared whereas it takes time to gain the respect of your peers.

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8. 67

   leroy64posted 13 years ago

   The Starwars reference is interesting. 
   
   I have always saw that movie series as a fight between equals.  Both sides of the force had a "big stick" and both were brought down by betrayal from a trusted source. 
    
   Currently, I think to be feared, people will have to believe that believe that you will use the stick.  What it takes to be respected?, I am not clear on that.  I know that it involves integrity in some way; but, that is needed for being feared as well. 
   
   The question is just the first step.   I have a lot of living, and readding, left to do.

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9. 61

   The Optimizersposted 13 years ago

   It would be great to be both feared and respected if you were a leader.. It's probably easier to be feared when you are in power, respect is a lot harder to gain from the masses than fear.. Fear can be struck into the public in one foul move... It would take an age to regain the respect.

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10. 60

    4tuneposted 13 years ago

    Have no interest in being feared, would need to carry a gun for that and not gonna do it, As it would be just way too tempting to use it on very rude people standing in line etc, lol!

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11. 76

    Rob Wintersposted 13 years ago

    Fear can be evoked in an instant wheras respect almost always takes time. Respect once earned tends to be enduring at least until something is done or perhaps not done (when expected) to reduce the respect earned. Fear (aside from extreme examples) tends to have to be repeatedly generated to endure in the same way.

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12. 61

    Dee aka Nonnaposted 13 years ago

    I think it is easier to be feared....respect, as the saying goes, should be earned.

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13. 79

    Danette Wattposted 13 years ago

    It's easier to be feared than to be respected. People will fear you if you are a bully. If you are very powerful, you can become corrupt and turn to thugs to keep yourself in power. Then you're feared again, not respected. It takes a lot of work to be respected, very little to be feared.

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14. 38

    greenlivingideasposted 13 years ago

    It's easy to be feared but it's hard to gain respect. Both go the opposite way. To be respected, it's not necessarily to be feared.

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15. 37

    edhanposted 13 years ago

    Yes. Fear is easier but then respect will be better.
    
    In respect, what you gain will be far more better than creating fear in life.
    
    Though respect takes time but it is worth every second of it. I rather like to create respect for me than getting fear in people.

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16. 68

    onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

    True wordsmiths..........can trace the word " fear"  back to respect.
    
    If you are in a leadership position, it really does not matter...........the end result is the same.   
    
    It all comes down to compliance..................
    
    or obeidance.
    
    
    Let us  address the problem (s) at hand........without regards to, of how,  why.
    
    Let US do the right thing, whether it be of succumbing, or of following.  In the end, it will not matter, if you followed because of respect, fear , or weakness.........it will not.
    
    You know the right thing to do.......no matter  its name.  Do that thing..........
    
    Either way, some will benefit.
    
    Bring something good to the table and you will be "just".
    
    "just" is better than either "fear" or "respect".
    
    Strive to be just.............

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17. 60

    ratikagaurposted 13 years ago

    my mother would always tell me that respect is something that is never demanded but always commanded..
    
    
    to strike fear in someone's heart is far more easy than making that person respect you for what you are..

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18. 76

    Phasmatisposted 13 years ago

    I've actually put a decent amount of thought into this.
    
    The problem with being respected is that you will have people walking over you. Because naturally they don't fear you they have no reason to think that you might send repercussions their way.
    
    The problem with being feared is that you will lack closer friendships and associations that come with being love or respected. This can lead to a very lonely existance.
    
    Logically being Feared is good but my answer is both. It is appropriate to be feared by ones enemies as such that friends will know not to become an enemy but also to be respected that way you still have class, friends, and a good standing in the community.

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19. 75

    Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years ago

    I doubt many folks loved Stalin during his years in power.  If they said that they did, it was only because they feared him.

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20. 69

    puddingicecreamposted 13 years ago

    It's easier to be feared than respected but it's respect that makes your life easier.

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