Saythen，myfriend，inwhatmannerdoestyrannyarise？——thatithasademocraticoriginisevident。
Clearly。
Anddoesnottyrannyspringfromdemocracyinthesamemannerasdemocracyfromoligarchy——Imean，afterasort？
How？
Thegoodwhicholigarchyproposedtoitselfandthemeansbywhichitwasmaintainedwasexcessofwealth——amInotright？
Yes。
Andtheinsatiabledesireofwealthandtheneglectofallotherthingsforthesakeofmoney—gettingwasalsotheruinofoligarchy？
True。
Anddemocracyhasherowngood，ofwhichtheinsatiabledesirebringshertodissolution？
Whatgood？
Freedom，Ireplied；which，astheytellyouinademocracy，isthegloryoftheState——andthatthereforeinademocracyalonewillthefreemanofnaturedeigntodwell。
Yes；thesayingisineverybody’smouth。
Iwasgoingtoobserve，thattheinsatiabledesireofthisandtheneglectofotherthingsintroducesthechangeindemocracy，whichoccasionsademandfortyranny。
Howso？
Whenademocracywhichisthirstingforfreedomhasevilcupbearerspresidingoverthefeast，andhasdrunktoodeeplyofthestrongwineoffreedom，then，unlessherrulersareveryamenableandgiveaplentifuldraught，shecallsthemtoaccountandpunishesthem，andsaysthattheyarecursedoligarchs。
Yes，hereplied，averycommonoccurrence。
Yes，Isaid；andloyalcitizensareinsultinglytermedbyherslaveswhohugtheirchainsandmenofnaught；shewouldhavesubjectswhoarelikerulers，andrulerswhoarelikesubjects：thesearemenafterherownheart，whomshepraisesandhonoursbothinprivateandpublic。Now，insuchaState，canlibertyhaveanylimit？
Certainlynot。
Bydegreestheanarchyfindsawayintoprivatehouses，andendsbygettingamongtheanimalsandinfectingthem。
Howdoyoumean？
Imeanthatthefathergrowsaccustomedtodescendtothelevelofhissonsandtofearthem，andthesonisonalevelwithhisfather，hehavingnorespectorreverenceforeitherofhisparents；
andthisishisfreedom，andmeticisequalwiththecitizenandthecitizenwiththemetic，andthestrangerisquiteasgoodaseither。
Yes，hesaid，thatistheway。
Andthesearenottheonlyevils，Isaid——thereareseverallesserones：Insuchastateofsocietythemasterfearsandflattershisscholars，andthescholarsdespisetheirmastersandtutors；youngandoldareallalike；andtheyoungmanisonalevelwiththeold，andisreadytocompetewithhiminwordordeed；andoldmencondescendtotheyoungandarefullofpleasantryandgaiety；
theyarelothtobethoughtmoroseandauthoritative，andthereforetheyadoptthemannersoftheyoung。
Quitetrue，hesaid。
Thelastextremeofpopularlibertyiswhentheslaveboughtwithmoney，whethermaleorfemale，isjustasfreeashisorherpurchaser；normustIforgettotellofthelibertyandequalityofthetwosexesinrelationtoeachother。
Whynot，asAeschylussays，utterthewordwhichrisestoourlips？
ThatiswhatIamdoing，Ireplied；andImustaddthatnoonewhodoesnotknowwouldbelieve，howmuchgreateristhelibertywhichtheanimalswhoareunderthedominionofmanhaveinademocracythaninanyotherState：fortruly，theshe—dogs，astheproverbsays，areasgoodastheirshe—mistresses，andthehorsesandasseshaveawayofmarchingalongwithalltherightsanddignitiesoffreemen；
andtheywillrunatanybodywhocomesintheirwayifhedoesnotleavetheroadclearforthem：andallthingsarejustreadytoburstwithliberty。
WhenItakeacountrywalk，hesaid，Ioftenexperiencewhatyoudescribe。YouandIhavedreamedthesamething。
Andaboveall，Isaid，andastheresultofall，seehowsensitivethecitizensbecome；theychafeimpatientlyattheleasttouchofauthorityandatlength，asyouknow，theyceasetocareevenforthelaws，writtenorunwritten；theywillhavenooneoverthem。
Yes，hesaid，Iknowittoowell。
Such，myfriend，Isaid，isthefairandgloriousbeginningoutofwhichspringstyranny。
Gloriousindeed，hesaid。Butwhatisthenextstep？
Theruinofoligarchyistheruinofdemocracy；thesamediseasemagnifiedandintensifiedbylibertyovermastersdemocracy——thetruthbeingthattheexcessiveincreaseofanythingoftencausesareactionintheoppositedirection；andthisisthecasenotonlyintheseasonsandinvegetableandanimallife，butaboveallinformsofgovernment。
True。
Theexcessofliberty，whetherinStatesorindividuals，seemsonlytopassintoexcessofslavery。
Yes，thenaturalorder。
Andsotyrannynaturallyarisesoutofdemocracy，andthemostaggravatedformoftyrannyandslaveryoutofthemostextremeformofliberty？
Aswemightexpect。
That，however，wasnot，asIbelieve，yourquestion—youratherdesiredtoknowwhatisthatdisorderwhichisgeneratedalikeinoligarchyanddemocracy，andistheruinofboth？
Justso，hereplied。
Well，Isaid，Imeanttorefertotheclassofidlespendthrifts，ofwhomthemorecourageousarethe—leadersandthemoretimidthefollowers，thesamewhomwewerecomparingtodrones，somestingless，andothershavingstings。
Averyjustcomparison。
Thesetwoclassesaretheplaguesofeverycityinwhichtheyaregenerated，beingwhatphlegmandbilearetothebody。AndthegoodphysicianandlawgiveroftheStateought，likethewisebee—master，tokeepthematadistanceandprevent，ifpossible，theirevercomingin；andiftheyhaveanyhowfoundawayin，thenheshouldhavethemandtheircellscutoutasspeedilyaspossible。
Yes，byallmeans，hesaid。
Then，inorderthatwemayseeclearlywhatwearedoing，letusimaginedemocracytobedivided，asindeeditis，intothreeclasses；forinthefirstplacefreedomcreatesrathermoredronesinthedemocraticthantherewereintheoligarchicalState。
Thatistrue。
Andinthedemocracytheyarecertainlymoreintensified。
Howso？
BecauseintheoligarchicalStatetheyaredisqualifiedanddrivenfromoffice，andthereforetheycannottrainorgatherstrength；
whereasinademocracytheyarealmosttheentirerulingpower，andwhilethekeenersortspeakandact，therestkeepbuzzingaboutthebemaanddonotsufferawordtobesaidontheotherside；henceindemocraciesalmosteverythingismanagedbythedrones。
Verytrue，hesaid。
Thenthereisanotherclasswhichisalwaysbeingseveredfromthemass。
Whatisthat？
Theyaretheorderlyclass，whichinanationoftraderssuretobetherichest。
Naturallyso。
Theyarethemostsqueezablepersonsandyieldthelargestamountofhoneytothedrones。
Why，hesaid，thereislittletobesqueezedoutofpeoplewhohavelittle。
Andthisiscalledthewealthyclass，andthedronesfeeduponthem。
Thatisprettymuchthecase，hesaid。
Thepeopleareathirdclass，consistingofthosewhoworkwiththeirownhands；theyarenotpoliticians，andhavenotmuchtoliveupon。This，whenassembled，isthelargestandmostpowerfulclassinademocracy。
True，hesaid；butthenthemultitudeisseldomwillingtocongregateunlesstheygetalittlehoney。
Anddotheynotshare？Isaid。Donottheirleadersdeprivetherichoftheirestatesanddistributethemamongthepeople；atthesametimetakingcaretoreservethelargerpartforthemselves？
Why，yes，hesaid，tothatextentthepeopledoshare。
Andthepersonswhosepropertyistakenfromthemarecompelledtodefendthemselvesbeforethepeopleastheybestcan？
Whatelsecantheydo？
Andthen，althoughtheymayhavenodesireofchange，theotherschargethemwithplottingagainstthepeopleandbeingfriendsofoligarchy？True。
Andtheendisthatwhentheyseethepeople，notoftheirownaccord，butthroughignorance，andbecausetheyaredeceivedbyinformers，seekingtodothemwrong，thenatlasttheyareforcedtobecomeoligarchsinreality；theydonotwishtobe，butthestingofthedronestormentsthemandbreedsrevolutioninthem。
Thatisexactlythetruth。
Thencomeimpeachmentsandjudgmentsandtrialsofoneanother。
True。
Thepeoplehavealwayssomechampionwhomtheysetoverthemandnurseintogreatness。
Yes，thatistheirway。
Thisandnootheristherootfromwhichatyrantsprings；whenhefirstappearsabovegroundheisaprotector。
Yes，thatisquiteclear。
Howthendoesaprotectorbegintochangeintoatyrant？ClearlywhenhedoeswhatthemanissaidtodointhetaleoftheArcadiantempleofLycaeanZeus。
Whattale？
Thetaleisthathewhohastastedtheentrailsofasinglehumanvictimmincedupwiththeentrailsofothervictimsisdestinedtobecomeawolf。Didyouneverhearit？
Oh，yes。
Andtheprotectorofthepeopleislikehim；havingamobentirelyathisdisposal，heisnotrestrainedfromsheddingthebloodofkinsmen；bythefavouritemethodoffalseaccusationhebringsthemintocourtandmurdersthem，makingthelifeofmantodisappear，andwithunholytongueandlipstastingthebloodofhisfellowcitizen；somehekillsandothershebanishes，atthesametimehintingattheabolitionofdebtsandpartitionoflands：andafterthis，whatwillbehisdestiny？Musthenoteitherperishatthehandsofhisenemies，orfrombeingamanbecomeawolf——thatis，atyrant？
Inevitably。
This，Isaid，ishewhobeginstomakeapartyagainsttherich？
Thesame。
Afterawhileheisdrivenout，butcomesback，inspiteofhisenemies，atyrantfullgrown。
Thatisclear。
Andiftheyareunabletoexpelhim，ortogethimcondemnedtodeathbyapublicaccusation，theyconspiretoassassinatehim。
Yes，hesaid，thatistheirusualway。
Thencomesthefamousrequestforabodyguard，whichisthedeviceofallthosewhohavegotthusfarintheirtyrannicalcareer——’Letnotthepeople’sfriend，’astheysay，’belosttothem。’
Exactly。
Thepeoplereadilyassent；alltheirfearsareforhim——theyhavenoneforthemselves。
Verytrue。
Andwhenamanwhoiswealthyandisalsoaccusedofbeinganenemyofthepeopleseesthis，then，myfriend，astheoraclesaidtoCroesus，BypebblyHermus’shorehefleesandrestsnotandisnotashamedtobeacoward。
Andquiterighttoo，saidhe，forifhewere，hewouldneverbeashamedagain。
Butifheiscaughthedies。
Ofcourse。
Andhe，theprotectorofwhomwespoke，istobeseen，not’lardingtheplain’withhisbulk，buthimselftheoverthrowerofmany，standingupinthechariotofStatewiththereinsinhishand，nolongerprotector，buttyrantabsolute。
Nodoubt，hesaid。
Andnowletusconsiderthehappinessoftheman，andalsooftheStateinwhichacreaturelikehimisgenerated。
Yes，hesaid，letusconsiderthat。
Atfirst，intheearlydaysofhispower，heisfullofsmiles，andhesaluteseveryonewhomhemeets；——hetobecalledatyrant，whoismakingpromisesinpublicandalsoinprivate！liberatingdebtors，anddistributinglandtothepeopleandhisfollowers，andwantingtobesokindandgoodtoeveryone！
Ofcourse，hesaid。
Butwhenhehasdisposedofforeignenemiesbyconquestortreaty，andthereisnothingtofearfromthem，thenheisalwaysstirringupsomewarorother，inorderthatthepeoplemayrequirealeader。
Tobesure。
Hashenotalsoanotherobject，whichisthattheymaybeimpoverishedbypaymentoftaxes，andthuscompelledtodevotethemselvestotheirdailywantsandthereforelesslikelytoconspireagainsthim？Clearly。
Andifanyofthemaresuspectedbyhimofhavingnotionsoffreedom，andofresistancetohisauthority，hewillhaveagoodpretextfordestroyingthembyplacingthematthemercyoftheenemy；
andforallthesereasonsthetyrantmustbealwaysgettingupawar。
Hemust。
Nowhebeginstogrowunpopular。
Anecessaryresult。
Thensomeofthosewhojoinedinsettinghimup，andwhoareinpower，speaktheirmindstohimandtooneanother，andthemorecourageousofthemcastinhisteethwhatisbeingdone。
Yes，thatmaybeexpected。
Andthetyrant，ifhemeanstorule，mustgetridofthem；hecannotstopwhilehehasafriendoranenemywhoisgoodforanything。
Hecannot。
Andthereforehemustlookabouthimandseewhoisvaliant，whoishigh—minded，whoiswise，whoiswealthy；happyman，heistheenemyofthemall，andmustseekoccasionagainstthemwhetherhewillorno，untilhehasmadeapurgationoftheState。
Yes，hesaid，andararepurgation。
Yes，Isaid，notthesortofpurgationwhichthephysiciansmakeofthebody；fortheytakeawaytheworseandleavethebetterpart，buthedoesthereverse。
Ifheistorule，Isupposethathecannothelphimself。
Whatablessedalternative，Isaid：——tobecompelledtodwellonlywiththemanybad，andtobebythemhated，ornottoliveatall！
Yes，thatisthealternative。
Andthemoredetestablehisactionsaretothecitizensthemoresatellitesandthegreaterdevotioninthemwillherequire？
Certainly。
Andwhoarethedevotedband，andwherewillheprocurethem？
Theywillflocktohim，hesaid，oftheirownaccord，ifliepaysthem。
Bythedog！Isaid，herearemoredrones，ofeverysortandfromeveryland。
Yes，hesaid，thereare。
Butwillhenotdesiretogetthemonthespot？
Howdoyoumean？
Hewillrobthecitizensoftheirslaves；hewillthensetthemfreeandenroltheminhisbodyguard。
Tobesure，hesaid；andhewillbeabletotrustthembestofall。
Whatablessedcreature，Isaid，mustthistyrantbe；hehasputtodeaththeothersandhastheseforhistrustedfriends。
Yes，hesaid；theyarequiteofhissort。
Yes，Isaid，andthesearethenewcitizenswhomhehascalledintoexistence，whoadmirehimandarehiscompanions，whilethegoodhateandavoidhim。
Ofcourse。
Verily，then，tragedyisawisethingandEuripidesagreattragedian。
Whyso？
Why，becauseheistheauthorofthepregnantsaying，Tyrantsarewisebylivingwiththewise；
andheclearlymeanttosaythattheyarethewisewhomthetyrantmakeshiscompanions。
Yes，hesaid，andhealsopraisestyrannyasgodlike；andmanyotherthingsofthesamekindaresaidbyhimandbytheotherpoets。
Andtherefore，Isaid，thetragicpoetsbeingwisemenwillforgiveusandanyotherswholiveafterourmannerifwedonotreceivethemintoourState，becausetheyaretheeulogistsoftyranny。
Yes，hesaid，thosewhohavethewitwilldoubtlessforgiveus。
Buttheywillcontinuetogotoothercitiesandattractmobs，andhirevoicesfairandloudandpersuasive，anddrawthecitiesovertotyranniesanddemocracies。
Verytrue。
Moreover，theyarepaidforthisandreceivehonour——thegreatesthonour，asmightbeexpected，fromtyrants，andthenextgreatestfromdemocracies；butthehighertheyascendourconstitutionhill，themoretheirreputationfails，andseemsunablefromshortnessofbreathtoproceedfurther。
True。
Butwearewanderingfromthesubject：Letusthereforereturnandenquirehowthetyrantwillmaintainthatfairandnumerousandvariousandever—changingarmyofhis。
If，hesaid，therearesacredtreasuresinthecity，hewillconfiscateandspendthem；andinsofarasthefortunesofattaintedpersonsmaysuffice，hewillbeabletodiminishthetaxeswhichhewouldotherwisehavetoimposeuponthepeople。
Andwhenthesefail？
Why，clearly，hesaid，thenheandhisbooncompanions，whethermaleorfemale，willbemaintainedoutofhisfather’sestate。
Youmeantosaythatthepeople，fromwhomhehasderivedhisbeing，willmaintainhimandhiscompanions？
Yes，hesaid；theycannothelpthemselves。
Butwhatifthepeopleflyintoapassion，andaverthatagrown—upsonoughtnottobesupportedbyhisfather，butthatthefathershouldbesupportedbytheson？Thefatherdidnotbringhimintobeing，orsettlehiminlife，inorderthatwhenhissonbecameamanheshouldhimselfbetheservantofhisownservantsandshouldsupporthimandhisrabbleofslavesandcompanions；butthathissonshouldprotecthim，andthatbyhishelphemightbeemancipatedfromthegovernmentoftherichandaristocratic，astheyaretermed。Andsohebidshimandhiscompanionsdepart，justasanyotherfathermightdriveoutofthehouseariotoussonandhisundesirableassociates。
Byheaven，hesaid，thentheparentwilldiscoverwhatamonsterhehasbeenfosteringinhisbosom；and，whenhewantstodrivehimout，hewillfindthatheisweakandhissonstrong。
Why，youdonotmeantosaythatthetyrantwilluseviolence？What！
beathisfatherifheopposeshim？
Yes，hewill，havingfirstdisarmedhim。
Thenheisaparricide，andacruelguardianofanagedparent；
andthisisrealtyranny，aboutwhichtherecanbenolongeramistake：asthesayingis，thepeoplewhowouldescapethesmokewhichistheslaveryoffreemen，hasfallenintothefirewhichisthetyrannyofslaves。Thusliberty，gettingoutofallorderandreason，passesintotheharshestandbitterestformofslavery。
True，hesaid。
Verywell；andmaywenotrightlysaythatwehavesufficientlydiscussedthenatureoftyranny，andthemannerofthetransitionfromdemocracytotyranny？
Yes，quiteenough，hesaid。
BOOKIX
SOCRATES—ADEIMANTUS
LASTofallcomesthetyrannicalman；aboutwhomwehaveoncemoretoask，howisheformedoutofthedemocratical？andhowdoeshelive，inhappinessorinmisery？
Yes，hesaid，heistheonlyoneremaining。
Thereis，however，Isaid，apreviousquestionwhichremainsunanswered。
Whatquestion？
Idonotthinkthatwehaveadequatelydeterminedthenatureandnumberoftheappetites，anduntilthisisaccomplishedtheenquirywillalwaysbeconfused。
Well，hesaid，itisnottoolatetosupplytheomission。
Verytrue，Isaid；andobservethepointwhichIwanttounderstand：
CertainoftheunnecessarypleasuresandappetitesIconceivetobeunlawful；everyoneappearstohavethem，butinsomepersonstheyarecontrolledbythelawsandbyreason，andthebetterdesiresprevailoverthem—eithertheyarewhollybanishedortheybecomefewandweak；
whileinthecaseofotherstheyarestronger，andtherearemoreofthem。
Whichappetitesdoyoumean？
Imeanthosewhichareawakewhenthereasoningandhumanandrulingpowerisasleep；thenthewildbeastwithinus，gorgedwithmeatordrink，startsupandhavingshakenoffsleep，goesforthtosatisfyhisdesires；andthereisnoconceivablefollyorcrime——notexceptingincestoranyotherunnaturalunion，orparricide，ortheeatingofforbiddenfood——whichatsuchatime，whenhehaspartedcompanywithallshameandsense，amanmaynotbereadytocommit。
Mosttrue，hesaid。
Butwhenaman’spulseishealthyandtemperate，andwhenbeforegoingtosleephehasawakenedhisrationalpowers，andfedthemonnoblethoughtsandenquiries，collectinghimselfinmeditation；
afterhavingfirstindulgedhisappetitesneithertoomuchnortoolittle，butjustenoughtolaythemtosleep，andpreventthemandtheirenjoymentsandpainsfrominterferingwiththehigherprinciple——whichheleavesinthesolitudeofpureabstraction，freetocontemplateandaspiretotheknowledgeoftheunknown，whetherinpast，present，orfuture：whenagainhehasallayedthepassionateelement，ifhehasaquarrelagainstanyone——Isay，when，afterpacifyingthetwoirrationalprinciples，herousesupthethird，whichisreason，beforehetakeshisrest，then，asyouknow，heattainstruthmostnearly，andisleastlikelytobethesportoffantasticandlawlessvisions。
Iquiteagree。
InsayingthisIhavebeenrunningintoadigression；butthepointwhichIdesiretonoteisthatinallofus，eveningoodmen，thereisalawlesswild—beastnature，whichpeersoutinsleep。
Pray，considerwhetherIamright，andyouagreewithme。
Yes，Iagree。
Andnowrememberthecharacterwhichweattributedtothedemocraticman。Hewassupposedfromhisyouthupwardstohavebeentrainedunderamiserlyparent，whoencouragedthesavingappetitesinhim，butdiscountenancedtheunnecessary，whichaimonlyatamusementandornament？
True。
Andthenhegotintothecompanyofamorerefined，licentioussortofpeople，andtakingtoalltheirwantonwaysrushedintotheoppositeextremefromanabhorrenceofhisfather’smeanness。Atlast，beingabettermanthanhiscorruptors，hewasdrawninbothdirectionsuntilhehaltedmidwayandledalife，notofvulgarandslavishpassion，butofwhathedeemedmoderateindulgenceinvariouspleasures。Afterthismannerthedemocratwasgeneratedoutoftheoligarch？
Yes，hesaid；thatwasourviewofhim，andissostill。
Andnow，Isaid，yearswillhavepassedaway，andyoumustconceivethisman，suchasheis，tohaveason，whoisbroughtupinhisfather’sprinciples。
Icanimaginehim。