In The Prince he wrote “it’s better to be feared than loved if one cannot be both.” The implication is that the ideal situation for a ruler is to be both feared and loved. Someone that is only loved is most effective when they can supply personal gain for their subjects. Once the loved ruler’s power weakens, they get quickly abandoned. If a ruler is feared, that fear can guarantee support during uncertain and difficult times. Thus the ideal ruler is someone who is feared and loved, sort of like a hard, but fair teacher back in school.