In the Prince, nachiavelli advised rulers that it " is much safer to be feared than loved " what does he mean by that

Machiavelli means by that is that love is an emotion easily turned off and on easily dis regarded while fear is unpredictable and doesn't wear off as easily it is engraved in a person and a commander feared is less subject to arbitrary chance (but also previously in his statement he mentions "if you cannot be both")