elli, A prince, therefore, must not have any other object nor another thought, nor must he take anything as his profession but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only profession which befits one who commands; and it is of such importance that not only does it maintain those who were born princes... (35).In this, Machiavelli stresses the importance of being prepared for war other than the importance of all other aspects pertaining to governing. The positive side of running a government in a fashion such as this is the fact that a strong militia equals a strong government. A strong government has its commendable aspects. In such cases where a nation is facing a critical situation, whether or not it will survive strictly depends on the stability and power of the government. Despite the noble characteristics of a strong government, the question of how strong is too strong must be carefully examined. If we allow the government to have complete control over how we live our lives, what amount of individuality and consciousness would a person be permitted? Through a careful analyzing of present documents concerning issues such as this, a medium must be found to create a fair and effective government. In reference to the cruelty of war, Machiavelli writes, But when the prince is with his armies and has under his command a multitude of troops, then it is absolutely necessary that he not worry about being considered cruel; for without that reputation he will never keep an army united or prepared for any combat (42). In this, Machiavelli believes that a prince must be considered cruel to earn the respect and fear for his troops as well as his enemy. This technique has proven to be practical.The use of instilling this fear into those desired is realistic, yet Lao Tzu has a completely different approach:Weapons are the tools of violence; all decent men detest them. Weapons are the tools of fear; a decent man will...
