Lao-Tzu Characteristics of a Good Leader Essay examples

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, â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching,† along with Niccolo Machiavelli’s, â€Å"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, â€Å"Thoughts from the Tao-te Ching.† He is also recognized as a, â€Å"contemporary of Confucius.† He served as a keeper of the dynastic archives.†¦show more content†¦This was a time, in which a money-based economy was being established, with means of commerce, the organization of international finance, and trading fleets. Technological advances were also on the rise such as gunpowder. This innovation changed the nature of the military as a whole. Another advance this era established was the printing press, this allowed the development of the Bible. It was processed in its original tongue and also translated into the vernacular (Baumgartner). When reading both of these stories, I was always hung up on what exactly I thought a good leader is. Lao-Tzu states in his work, â€Å"When the Master governs the people are hardly aware that he exists.† His proposal says that the ruler shouldn’t inform the people about all of his ideas, and that the less they know the happier they will be in the end. This idea of a leader, who is somewhat under the radar, completely contradicts Machiavelli’s idea, that a ruler must be feared to be effective. As I thought more about this I felt as if I was slightly more in sync with Machiavelli’s viewpoints. People today need to have an authority figure in which they fear so that they will obey laws. In a world filled with crime, more fear might lead to less law breaking. But is fear the only trait one should have to be an effective leader? InShow MoreRelatedLao-tzu and Current Government Essay806 Words   |  4 PagesChing (in English pronounced â€Å"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 â€Å"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-lingRead MoreAmerican Government in Contrast to Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli Essay832 Words   |  4 PagesAmerican Government in Contrast to Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli In comparing and contrasting the governmental philosophies of the great thinkers Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli, I have found a pleasant mix of both of their ideas would be the best for America today. Lao-Tzu’s laisse-faire attitude towards the economy, as well as his small scale military is appealing to my liberal side, while Machiavelli’s attitude towards miserliness which causes low taxes appeals to the right wing. These great thinkersRead MoreA Good Leader : Lao Tzu1731 Words   |  7 PagesA good modern day leader should be able to be honest, well-rounded, confident in his work, well committed, and be able to protect his country and responsibilities throughout any trials thrown his way. In modern day society a good leader would be Lao-Tzu. He uses beliefs and tactics that are civil for today’s society. As for comparing two great leaders from a time so far back, I would have to pick Machiavelli as a great leader. The way the writers present them in the book is al most opposite in everyRead MoreLeadership And The Tao Of The Epic Of Gilgamesh1665 Words   |  7 Pagespeople, there is a leader selected over. This person acts as the guide, a protector, and the example for the people to follow. Sadly, this person is not always the one best suited for the job. The qualities of this leader is the lifeblood for the survival of the people they are appointed over. There are many examples of good and bad leadership throughout history. When the leader has outstanding leadership qualities, the people will flourish. When the leader has poor leader, the people will sufferRead More The Ideal State of Today Essay1789 Words   |  8 Pagesbeen an on going mission for leaders since the creation of the first government. For a state to be truly ideal, its administration and chief must have the right characteristics. A government is a system that governs a state. A leader is someone who operates the administration. Although this seems simple, historical and current chiefs and regimes have proven it is not. The teachings of men such as Lao-Tzu and Niccolo Machiavelli include specific details on the traits a leader must posses in order to runRead MoreThe Servant Leader Is A Servant1562 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The servant-leader is a servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead† (Center for Servant Leadership, 2015). Introduction to Servant Leadership Of the numerous leadership styles, servant leadership has the strongest historical foundation. The notion of servant leadership can be traced back to the 4th century B.C., through the official papers of Lao-Tzu who lived in China 570 B.C. Lao-Tzu was a ChineseRead MoreAnalysis Of Yin Yang Way Of Thinking2073 Words   |  9 Pagesbalanced (Robert 6). This paper intends to explore the major aspects of yin-yang way of thinking, how it affects the Confucius and Lao Zi ways of viewing happenings in the universe and the application of this kind of thought to the contemporary society There are some unique characteristics that are associated with the yin-yang way of thinking. These characteristics include; a) Complementary: This kind of thinking believes that the two opposing or different forces complement one another. They dependRead MoreLao Tzu Essay1091 Words   |  5 PagesLao Tzu The Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu put it best when he said, â€Å"A leader is best when people barley know he exists, When his work is done, his aim fulfilled, They will say: We did it ourselves.† Often when a person thinks of a leader they think of such great leaders as George Washington, George Patton, and Thomas Jackson. The word â€Å"leader† itself will invoke images of die-hard men with the charisma to command anyone and overcome anything. Yet despite this common image there was no theoryRead MoreComparison between Classical Athens and Han China1005 Words   |  5 Pageshierarchy and acceptance of position of the population in both societies, Han China and Classical Athens had disparities proportionate to their physical sizes. The geographical isolation from each other resulted in the differences in demographics, characteristics of government structures, individual duties and roles in government, and the general view of life. The east to west length of the Han Empire dwarfs the city-state of Athens. The maps of Classical Greece and Han China display the basic geographyRead MoreEssay on Taoism in Ursula LeGuins2664 Words   |  11 Pagesapparent that Omelas in many ways does not have to be concrete and limited to the previously provided descriptions. Her aim is not to describe a particular city, although it is named and its characteristics are already expressed, but to present the idea of a perfect city, a utopia in which bliss is fixed, and good fortune is wholly unchanging. However, there are two important details that the narrator insists upon in addition to the statement that they are happy: firstly, the people are