Lao Tzu Vs Machiavelli

Lao Tzu and Niccolo Machiavelli
Lao Tzu and Niccolo Machiavelli are two philosophies that show the people the basic foundation of how the government should run. They both talk about the art of governing the country. Their views and concepts of what makes a proper leader and how the government should work are extremely different from each other. At the same time, their lessons which they both have taught us are still relevant till today for the modern society. Lao Tzu is following the idea of enlightenment while Machiavelli attitude towards a structured government. Frequently, they both have different opinions concerning to the way how the ruler should act, how to rule the government and gain the people's trust.
Lao Tzu talks about the art of living in peace, deep wisdom and world with no wars or fighting. He believes that Weapons are tools used to fear people and the wise man should avoid using them, except in the dire necessity. Which means to act only when it's necessary. Unlike Machiavelli who thinks that the strength of your country should be measured by the ability to fight. In his opinion, it helps you to take control over the country and gain respect. But according to Lao Tzu, you cannot gain
respect from people if you fear them. Their ideas of how the ruler could maintain his powers are quite different. Lao Tzu indicates that by building a good relationship with the people will help him maintain his throne. While Machiavelli said that by having a powerful, structured government and strong rules will help you maintain your powers. He thinks that by regulating people’s behaviors and how they are assumed to behave toward the laws and the rules, he will have an overall control over the people. Yet, Lao Tzu's opinion is that you cannot take an overall control on the people, because he sees that the world will govern itself. He sees that too much regulation will lead to disobedience and less restriction will help to get less rebels.
Machiavelli believes that you should force rules and make the people afraid of the consequences of not following your orders or not obeying you. He also believes that the prince should be deceptive, wiliness and dictator, so he will gain the people's respect. However, Lao Tzu believes that to gain respect, loyalty and love from the people, you should give them their freedom; don't force rules or even act powerfully on them. He thinks that you should give people the trust and avoid issues, so you would gain their love. He says "The next best is a leader who is loved. Next the one who is feared. The worst is one who is despised" (Lao Tzu 207). Unlike Machiavelli who said “I reply that one should like to be both one and the other; but since it is difficult to join them together, it is much safer to be feared than loved when one of the two must be lacking” (Machiavelli 227).
In the meanwhile, Lao Tzu pointed that if you gave the people their freedom, they will go for the right thing by themselves. Considering his belief that all the people were naturally born good. Yet, Machiavelli warned to give the people much freedom. Otherwise when the chance comes to them, they will get together, go against you and take off your throne.
In these days, all the countries have many problems like terrorism and rebels which cause danger to our lives.
As effective guides such as Lao Tzu and Niccolo Machiavelli, we are able to handle these problems, by following their advices, which many generations have already followed. With these bases which they put, we will be able to build the strength of our countries. There are some similarities between Lao Tzu and Niccolo Machiavelli; nevertheless it's very hard to indicate them. Comparing to Lao Tzu's concepts, Machiavelli is describing the actual world which we live in. In contrast, Lao Tzu and Machiavelli both lived at different times, and in different places. Moreover their opinions and concepts have influenced and become beneficial to many people and
generations.