What does niccolo Machiavelli think that a prince should prefer to be loved or feared and why?

What he meant is that, after conquering new territory, you can expect resistance to your rule, unless the locals love you enough not to want to rebel, or are so weak that they do not have the means. What he said is that it would be best to be both loved and feared, but since that is impossible, it is safer if people cannot challenge your rule than if they can, but don't want to.