Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Importance of leadership to a society
importance of leadership in our society
importance of leadership in our society
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Importance of leadership to a society
Government is the essential power of a country, which directly influences society because it provides somewhat of a security blank for those who are affected by it. Lao-Tzu’s, “Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching,” along with Niccolo Machiavelli’s, “The Qualities of the Prince,” both discuss multiple characteristics that a leader should possess to be a successful. While their goal is similar, in which they both describe what it takes to become a better leader, their ideas concerning leading are conflicting.
Lao-Tzu, a Chinese Philosopher from Henan Province China, is known today as the author of, “Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching.” He is also recognized as a, “contemporary of Confucius.” He served as a keeper of the dynastic archives. Lao-Tzu works served as a basis for Taoism, a religion officially founded by the Chang Tao-Ling (“Lao-Tzu”).
Lao-Tzu’s works were created in the sixth century B.C., a time when the Near East for the first half of century was controlled by the Neo-Babylonian or the Chaldean Empire. During this time the Kingdom of Judah also came to an end. By the 540s the Babylonian rule was coming to an end, and was eventually replaced by the Persian Empire (Wikipedia Contributors.)
Niccolo Machiavelli, the author of, “Qualities of the Prince,” lived from 1469-1527. He was an Italian author, political figure, and grew to become of the most outstanding figures of the Renaissance (Barnett). Although part of an impoverished branch, he was fortunate to be affiliated with a distinguished family. When he entered the political field in Florence he quickly rose to an area of importance as the defense secretary. In 1512, when the Medici’ returned to Florence he was removed from his job, imprisoned, and tortured. He ne...
... middle of paper ...
...ks are definitely relevant to today’s society, and can be applied to many situations that we face as Americans today. Although the extremes of Lao-Tzu’s easygoing attitude and Machiavelli’s totalitarian concepts contradict each other, when there is common ground their ideas mesh to make a very well rounded leader.
Works Cited
Barnett, Vincent. "Niccolo Machiavelli -- the Cunning Critic of Political Reason." History Review 56 (2006): 6-9. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 23 Apr. 2011.
Baumgartner, Frederic, and Et Al. "Sixteenth Century." Le Poulet Gauche. Web. 27 Apr. 2011. .
"Lao Tzu." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition (2010): 1. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 26 Apr. 2011.
"Niccolò Machiavelli." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition (2010): 1. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 23 Apr. 2011.
Tao-te Ching (in English pronounced “dow deh jing”) is believed to be written by Lao-tzu (6th century B.C). However, it is not for certain that he wrote the book. Lao-tzu is translated as “Old Master”. He was born in the state of Ch’u in China. It’s been said that he worked in the court of the Chou dynasty. The day that he was leaving the court to start his own life, the keeper of the gate urged him to write his thoughts as a book. Lao-tzu’s work mostly illustrates Taoism –a religion founded by Chang Tao-ling A.D. 150. His main purpose in this piece is practicing peace, simplicity, naturalness, and humility. Lao-tzu believes that people are overloaded with temporal objects in this world. He recommends his readers to let go of everything and always keep the balance in anything. In my opinion, Lao-tzu would more likely dislike our government and the way that people live nowadays. The reason is because majority of the people are attached to secular things. To paraphrase the famous, people have materialistic characteristics in today’s world which is completely against Lao-tzu’s view.
Mo Tzu lived and taught during the tumultuous Period of Warring States (475-221 BCE) in ancient China. He believed people should only do that which benefits themselves or others and that the civil wars that were taking place were a waste of both time and resources. At the time, Mo Tzu’s teachings were very controversial and differed from the popular belief...
Machiavelli, Nicolo (1532) The Prince. In Peter Bondanella’s and Mark Musa’s (eds) The Portable Machiavelli. (pp. 77-166) New York, New York: Penguin Books.
Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince, translated by N.H. Thomson. Vol. XXXVI, Part 1. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14; Bartleby.com, 2001.
5. Niccolo Machiavelli, Selected Political Writings: The Prince and The Discourses on Livy, Hackett Publishing Company, 1994.
Ridolfi, Roberto. The Life of Niccolò Machiavelli. Trans. Cecil Grayson. 1954. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1963. Print.
Machiavelli, Niccolò, and Robert Martin Adams. "Chapter 18." The Prince: A Revised Translation, Backgrounds, Interpretations, Marginalia. New York: Norton, 1992. 49. Print.
Kaltenmark, Max. Lao Tzu and Taoism. Translated by Roger Greaves. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 1969.
Unlike Confucius, Lao-tzu believed that the natural order was important to have a peaceful society. His book, Dao de Ching expressed his belief that a universal force, the Dao, guides all things.
Machiavelli has long been required reading for everyone intrested in politics and power. In The Prince Niccolo M
The supposed author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu, is said to be the father of Taoism. It is estimated that Lao Tzu, spelled many other ways including Lao-tsu, Lao Tse, and Lao Tzi, was born under the name of Li Erh in Honan, China, around 604 B.C.E. Myth says that Lao Tzu was born fully developed with a long, white beard and hair the color of snow. He was somewhat of a recluse and withdrew from society to avoid governmental law and rule. He retreated to the Western frontier after the fall of the Zhou dynasty to continue his personal study of metaphysics and philosophy (Taoism 2). The collaborations of his studies and observations are said to be the basis of the Tao Te Ching, although some scholars argue that Lao Tzu’s existence cannot be proved and that the scholar Chuang-tzu played at least a partial role in the authorship. However the Tao Te Ching came to be, it is prized for being the foundation of Taoist belief and should hold merit as a universal guide, not as an author’s accomplishment (De Bary, Chan, and Watson 49).
The sections that I will be presenting are 73, 74, and 75. I will discuss the political ideas of Niccolo Machiavelli, Francesco Guicciardini, and Thomas Hobbes during the time of Florence Republic. First, Niccolo Machiavelli was born in Florence, Italy in 1469 at a time when the country was in political upheaval. Italy was divided between four dominant city-states, by which each of them was always at the mercy of the continual changing of princes and governments.
... Nederman, Cary, "Niccolò Machiavelli", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2009 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = .
During the time 1469, a child by the name of Niccolo Di Bernardo Del Machiavelli was born .Some may know him as an Italian philosopher, humanist, or a evil minded fellow associated with the corruptness of totalitarian government. In Machiavelli’s home state Florence, he introduces the modern political theory. Hoping to gain influence with the ruling Medici family Niccolo wrote a pamphlet call The Prince (Prezzolini).
Lao-Tze founded Taoism around 550 BC. The goal in Taoism is achieve Inner harmony, pea...