There are
also the wealthy who minister to the state with their property;
these form the seventh class. The eighth class is that of
magistrates and of officers; for the state cannot exist without
rulers. And therefore some must be able to take office and to serve
the state, either always or in turn. There only remains the class of
those who deliberate and who judge between disputants; we were just
now distinguishing them. If presence of all these elements, and
their fair and equitable organization, is necessary to states, then
there must also be persons who have the ability of statesmen.
Different functions appear to be often combined in the same
individual; for example, the warrior may also be a husbandman, or an
artisan; or, again, the councillor a judge. And all claim to possess
political ability, and think that they are quite competent to fill
most offices. But the same persons cannot be rich and poor at the same
time. For this reason the rich and the poor are regarded in an
especial sense as parts of a state. Again, because the rich are
generally few in number, while the poor are many, they appear to be
antagonistic, and as the one or the other prevails they form the
government. Hence arises the common opinion that there are two kinds
of government- democracy and oligarchy.
I have already explained that there are many forms of
constitution, and to what causes the variety is due.
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