Government Styles - Lao-tzu and Machiavelli

            The authors of Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching and The Qualities of the Prince wrote to discuss the instruction of government rulers. The author of Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching was unknown, but due to earlier texts, Lao-tzu was given credit for the work. Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching were written in a traditional Chinese form of poetry with a style of writing similar to biblical form. The Qualities of the Prince was an instructional book written by Niccolò Machiavelli. Machiavelli gave historical examples, directions, and discussion on both sides of the argument. The ultimate goal of both works was to enhance the government of their country and time period. .
             Lao-tzu and Machiavelli had a similar view of government. Both of the leader's main purpose was to better the structure of government. Lao-tzu took a different approach to improving the infrastructure than Machiavelli. Lao-tzu used a Laissez-faire approach, which is a hands off approach, to government. He stated that politicians should intervene only when it is necessary. Politicians should not annoy the people and allow them to achieve things on their own. When Lao-tzu instructed, "I let go of the law, and people become honest, I let go of economics, and people become prosperous. I let go of religion, and people become serene. I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes as common as grass." (Jacobus 211). He was saying that if one quits forcing laws upon the people, they will begin to see the need for them and then start to follow them. Machiavelli had a direct and effective view of government. His idea was to do anything it took to obtain and preserve power, even if it meant doing immoral things. He believed a prince must at least appear to have knowledge of the laws, even if he really did not. Machiavelli intended to achieve his goals with force, but only if it was extremely crucial. The ways the two leaders went about it where very different; however, they both shared the goal of improving their government and doing what was best for the people and their country.