Machiavell/Tzu

Machiavell/Tzu

  • Submitted By: jesshoff00
  • Date Submitted: 11/07/2013 1:04 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 735
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 1

Powered byLoading...Essay #1 After reading both Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and Lao Tzu’s “Tao te Ching”, many differences were apparent. The time in history was different; geographically where these stories were written was different, views on government, and what expectations they had on the treatment of mankind were all differences. Tzu had a more relaxed, spiritual; the universe is our ruler approach. Tzu thought “We can spend our efforts trying to row upstream, making ourselves more miserable in the process, or we can relax, make sure that our raft points downstream, and enjoy where the river takes us”, (158) really embodies his ideals. While Machiavelli believes “that political power is exercised in the real world and must therefore take into account the unsavory characteristics of real human beings: ambition, cruelty, greed, gullibility, and incompetence” (184) shows his more abrasive, unkind, greedy side not only as a ruler, but also as a human being. The views that Tzu and Machiavelli had on government and politics couldn’t have been more opposite than night and day. Tzu embraced a more minimalistic approach to governing. Tzu believed that “rulers lead more successfully when they give up ambition; they should not make changes simply for the sake of making changes; and they should govern in a way that works with, rather than against, the natural order of the universe.” (158) Simply speaking, he believed that if you give up such ambition to do nothing other than gain power over others that will lead to you not only being more successful as a ruler but also as a person. You shouldn’t make constant changes to the government just to look like your being productive as a ruler or just because the power is yours to do so. Also you should work with the universe rather Loading...than against, meaning there are beliefs or certain unspoken rules that have been put in place by a higher power and are better left unchanged. Machiavelli encompassed a more stern and harsh...

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