Niccolo machiavelli in the prince and thomas hobbes in leviathan both advocated that a ruler should
a. place the needs of subjects first
b. employ absolute power to maintain order in the areas under their rule
c. apply christian teachings to all decisions
d. obtain power from a social contract with the governed

The correct answer is B. Employ absolute power to maintain order in the areas under their rule.
Machiaveli's idea about ruling was that it is better to be feared that to be loved. Thus a ruler, a king, emperor, or whoever was in charge of a country, had to have absolute power over everyone and instill fear in his or her subjects so that they cannot even think about rebelling.