Machiavelli felt that punishments were more effective than rewards. However, Machiavelli's explanation is unconvincing: "...the bond of love is one which people, base creatures that they are, break when it is to their advantage; but fear is strengthened by a dread of punishment which never fails". This conclusion is paradoxical because rewards and punishments with equal fitness ratios will seem equal to recipients, which should quickly evolve to perceive these ratios. In natural selection, it is the proportional, rather than the absolute fitness that is important
