Well Balanced Leadership: An Ideal Way to Approach Humanity

The basic advice given by Niccolo Machiavelli on governing a society contradicts that of Lao-Tzu's in the way they differ in philosophies, yet the ends they seek to meet are similar. They each had unique philosophies on leadership. As I attempt in trying to find commonalities in these two philosophies, the only one that I can sense is that both give advice on how to lead a nation to maintain prosperity, safety, and peace. I also find truth in the book statement that reads: "Like Lao-Tzu, Machiavelli is brief and to the point."

Machiavelli was from Italy and Lao-Tzu from China. Their basic idea was to benefit the country and the people through good leadership, however their desired approaches in achieving this end contradict each other. Lao-Tzu's philosophy is based on traditional rituals, customs and rites of China. He is known as the author of the "Tao Te Ching", source which I have studied to compare his philosophies to those of Machiavelli. Though we do not know the exact origin of the "Tao Te Ching", it is indeed very mysterious in contrast to the writings of Machia...