Lao Tsu Vs Machiavelli

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Lao Tsu once said "If a little kingdom is lowly towards a great kingdom it will take possession of the great kingdom", on the other end Niccolo Machiavelli argues that a leader not act lowly, but be feared by his people and other rulers. Christine Pizan adds in, that a ruler not be feared or lowly but to be mutually respected. However, each ruler cannot obey either teachings without employing hypocrisy, the act of behaving differently from the own perceived beliefs or moral code. To follow Lao Tsu is to humble oneself, with the intention of gaining more, by listening to Machiavelli one must use deceit to appease and maintain efficacy of a government. To adhere to Pizans teachings is to make use of relationships often with the