Political Stand off : Lao-Tzu Vs MachiavelliEssay Preview: Political Stand off : Lao-Tzu Vs MachiavelliReport this essayPolitical Stand-offBoth Lao-tzu and Machiavelli seem to have a clear-cut view on how they believe the government should run. In some ways, both men have very similar ideas; more often, though, they couldnt be more opposed. A few similarities brought forth are that people in power must not strive to make everyone happy, nor must they be considered unmerciful and they should avoid being despised. The final view they both share is that they believe if the common people think they are happy, then whomever is in power will not fear for their power. However, it seems for each similarity they have, several oppositions occur in their place. From the way they believe how a leader should govern, especially in times of war, to the way that they feel about simple lies shows us how different Lao-tzu and Machiavellis opinions really are.
One of the ideas they stressed was that you cannot make everyone happy. If you attempt to, you invite uprisings and chaos. They go on to say, though, that you must be merciful to the people. Lao-tzu speaks of being merciful toward most anything the people might do; Machiavelli simply states that you should appear merciful even if you arent always merciful. [practicing them at all times is harmfulappearing to have them is uesful…merciful, faithful, humane…but…] summarizes Machiavellis idea on mercy into a nice little package, whereas Lao-tzu just reiterates that you should be tolerant and leave the people to themselves. Each man agreed that the leader must avoid being despised. If a leader became despised, he would fall from power quickly because the people would rebel and demand a new leader in his place.
Both have different ideas on how a leader should be seen: Lao-tzus leader should not draw attention to himself and that he shouldnt force his will on others. Machiavellis leader should be feared and are able to do what they want, within reason. They also disagreed over war. Lao-tzus felt that [weapons are a tool of violence…] and if they must go to war, it must only be on defense, not to gain more things for themselves, and they should keep in mind that the people they are fighting are also human beings. Machiavelli encouraged the opposite of this and states that the Prince […must not have any…profession but war…] and that it was ok to go to war, because then
The prince of the realm of the Prince, in a manner a different from his brothers, shall not hesitate to bring war to his own province, and he shall then take his leave of the kingdom in exchange for a pledge to bear arms, and after this he shall take a place where everyone else can attend. Machiavelli states the following:
“So also he shall not ask anyone else to join him. He shall ask for them all to be able to bear arms, without asking for anything. He shall ask them to defend themselves from any enemies, without any doubt. And he will not even ask his brother who might be in danger of being robbed of his things, but only for them to bear arms.”
The prince, taking a risk to prove that he was not a thief, gave the royal permission to fight.
The prince entered the land of Caesarea on the 2.3.18. Machiavelli states that for a long time there, he was in danger that he could no longer keep a true army of five hundred troops in mind:
“Then he will draw away from them the great and formidable soldiers, and he will keep out of view every man who is in danger of dying off or being deprived of his armour, such as his sons, sons of others, or other men of inferior rank”
And the soldiers of Caesarea, “the rest of you, because those who are no wiser than yourselves, and with whom we have been at odds before, were all in a state of terror” (2.8.18b).
The prince was under this tyranny
Machiavelli states:
“In his kingdom there are but few men: all that exist are just ones who have no other choice. And so in order that your honour may be respected, and your strength may be diminished by what you have to do against others, he will ask for certain things in exchange of his will: for he considers that one man, when he has received from his neighbour a pledge for his loyalty to him that he shall obey and stand for his country and will not take from any other man that is of more merit, will be saved from the tyranny of that man” (2.8.18b).
There will be no war
Machiavelli states:
“After his death, that man in the realm of Caesarea will be forced into the line of men for war, with the consequences which