Both Machiavelli and Kautilya talked about what they believed a prince/ruler should be. Kautilya's advice and Machiavelli's advice are similar because Kautilya believed that a prince should be a nominated successor, one of dynamic intelligence and he who carries out mandates of the right. He believes never should a mentally deficient son be made to sit on the seat of power. Machiavelli believes very similarly that a prince also must be very wise. He states,"Still the experience of out times shows those princes to have done great things who have had little regard for good faith, and have been able by astuteness to confuse mens brains". Both believe that a ruler should have the ability to balance ethical behavior, self-control and wisdom with authoritarian and often forceful governing practices.