Answer: A. They suggest that a ruler who is feared can retain power, while a ruler who is hated is less likely to do so.
Explanation:
<em>The Prince</em> is a book from the 16th century, written by the Italian political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli.
In this particular excerpt, Machiavelli insists that the prince should inspire fear and not the hatred. The fear allows the prince to govern, but hatred can only compromise his position. Therefore, the prince should not take away property. If he does so, people will hate him. On the other hand, he can take life, but should not kill people without proper reasons.
