Why does Machiavelli claim that a prince should choose inspiring fear over love?

[Ann]

In Chapter 17, Machiavelli maintains that people are motivated by maximizing benefit to themselves and minimizing harm to themselves. He states that people are more reluctant to cause harm to those they fear than to those they love. Hence, by causing people to fear him, the prince better protects himself from harm. In addition, by relying on love to protect him, the prince is primarily relying on fortune, because whether people love him is beyond his control. However, by relying on fear, he is primarily relying on his own ability. Machiavelli claims that success through fortune is always inferior to success through ability; if both cannot be managed, he recommends choosing fear over love.