The Divergent Governmental Views of Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu.
Rarely have the governmental views of two men differed as greatly as they do between Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu. The Prince, written by Machiavelli, expresses Machiavelli's ideas on what the government should do to benefit society. Benefiting society, according to Machiavelli, was encompassing all the power and having total control over the population. Lao-Tzu, on the other hand, holds a completely different opinion in Thoughts from the Tao-Te Ching. In this writing, he expresses his belief that people just need to live in a theocracy or laissez-faire, the government should step back and let God lead the people into a proper lifestyle. These two men have completely different views concerning the way a government should rule. (thesis).
Concerning the obligations a leader already has, Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu's views range from Machiavelli wanting to maintain control to Lao-Tzu's view of a leader just serving as an example (prong1). Machiavelli believes the ruling Prince should be the sole authority determining every aspect of the state and put in effect a policy that would serve his best interest. These interests were gaining, maintaining, and expanding his political power. In order to receive love, Machiavelli suggests that a prince must be readily willing to deceive the citizens. One way is to "make everyone recognize in his actions greatness, spirit, dignity, and strength- (48). These measures, though carried out in deception, would bring the prince honor and trust amongst the citizens, thus he can maintain tighter control over the people. Diverging from Machiavelli's view of government, Lao-Tzu believed that a leader should "serve as an example and not impose her will [on the people]- (28). Lao-Tzu was very nave in his thinking, he believed people were naturally good and "they [people] will [usually] do the right thing- (23).