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Compare And Contrast How Machiavelli And Lao Tzu's View Of Government

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What’s the Best Way to Rule the People?

(An analysis of the differing views of government between Machiavelli and Lao-Tzu)

Machiavelli and Lao-tzu both ruled over a group of people at one time or another and they both had extremely different views of government and on how to rule their groups as well. Machiavelli was a man that ruled during the Renaissance in Italy while Lao-tzu ruled in China. The word government is defined as the governing body of a nation, state or community. Machiavelli was an aristocrat that lived from 1469 to 1527. He also wrote The Qualities of the Prince in 1513 and he talks about what a prince needs to do to be liked and successful. Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching is the thoughts of the Tao-te Ching that were written down by Lao-tzu before he went into self-imposed exile. Three of the many differing views are that …show more content…

Machiavelli also thinks that being in war all the time is the best way for anyone to live. From an essay written about how Machiavelli governed, “‘A prince must have no other objective or other thought or take anything for his craft, except war.’ Nothing can be gained, or kept, or increased, without a fight.” (Valiunas, Algis. "Hard Guy Discourse." GoWyld. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016). Michael Ledeen wrote a book and talked a lot about the way Machiavelli talked and he says, "Machiavelli expands the earlier paradox: just as the quest for peace at any price invites war and, worse than war, defeat and domination, so good acts sometimes advance the triumph of evil, as there are circumstances when only doing evil ensures the victory of a good cause." (Valiunas, Algis. "Hard Guy Discourse." GoWyld. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2016). Lao-tzu thinks that if he lets go of things that make life more confusing and complicated, it will make them more honest, prosperous, and

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