Question

therefore a prince, so long as he keeps his subjects united and loyal, ought not to mind the reproach of cruelty; because with a few examples he will be more merciful than those who, through too much mercy, allow disorders to arise, from which follow murders or robberies; for these are wont to injure the whole people, whilst those executions which originate with a prince offend the individual only.
-the prince,
niccolò machiavelli
which statement best summarizes the argument in the passage?
a cruel leader will prevent subjects from living in a place of crime and violence.
a cruel leader will cause subjects to commit crime and violence in rebellion.
a cruel leader will execute subjects who are guilty of committing crime and violence.
a cruel leader who is faced with crime and violence must unite subjects.

Explanation:

The passage argues that a prince who uses limited cruelty to keep subjects united avoids widespread harm from disorder (murders/robberies) that comes from excessive mercy. Option A aligns with this: such a leader's controlled cruelty prevents the broader crime/violence that harms all people, unlike over-merciful leaders who let disorder spread. The other options misinterpret the text: B claims cruelty causes rebellion (opposite of the passage), C focuses only on executing the guilty (not the core point of preventing widespread harm), D frames uniting subjects as a response to crime (the passage states cruelty is acceptable if subjects are already united to avoid disorder).

Answer:

A. A cruel leader will prevent subjects from living in a place of crime and violence.