Machiavelli and Thoreau On: How One Governs and is Governed

    While both authors attempt to answer the question of how a government can maintain order and the safety of its people while preserving its citizens' natural right to be free, Machiavelli's idea of how one should govern and how one is governed is very different from Thoreau ideas. Thoreau has a more liberal approach on how one governs, and suggests reform or immediate action against the higher power. He is very critical of the government, and thinks much of it has to change for it to serve its purpose maintaining order and the safety of its people while preserving its citizens' natural right to be free. He suggests that the government be reformed, and that the people should be governed fairly. Machiavelli, on the other hand stresses the importance of the government maintaining order above all else, regardless of whether the actions done to maintain this order are moral or immoral.
           

Thoreau's approach may be in a mildly aggressive tone, but he proposes nonviolent acts such as getting the governments attention by not paying taxes to suggest reform. Machiavelli's approach and proposal are both aggressive, insisting that a ruler must do whatever is in his power to rule his people regardless of whether his actions are moral or immoral and that "...it is safer to be feared than to be loved." But, one thing both authors seem to agree on even though they are ages apart is that one should never be passive. Thoreau describes that a man should never be passive saying, "A wise man will only be useful as a man, and will not submit to be “clay”..." and Machiavelli says a ruler should never be passive and should do what it takes to maintain order.

Thoreau and Machiavelli's ideas also differ in terms of the governed. According to Machiavelli, the governed are "feeble and effeminate," and "always impressed by the superficial appearance of things." He believes that the "masses” are gullible, passive, will fall for everything, and do not dare to stand up against higher power. He says, "... few know what you really are: and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion, supported by the majesty of the government." Thoreau on the other hand, strongly believes that man should not be fooled by the government, and should rise against it if he believes it is right for reform. Thoreau believes that when someone notices something is wrong, they have to make the choice to stand up and do something. He encourages us to not submit to be clay, easily molded by others ideas and forced to stand upright by someone else’s beliefs, rules, and morals if not coherent with your own. Thoreau says, "Let your life be a counter-friction to stop the machine." This means that even if you have to give up your life to a cause and throw yourself into the gears of the machine- the government, then do it. You will sacrifice a lot in the process, but it will stop the machine.