At Syracuse, the
people, having been the chief authors of the victory in the war with
the Athenians, changed the constitutional government into democracy.
At Chalcis, the people, uniting with the notables, killed Phoxus the
tyrant, and then seized the government. At Ambracia, the people, in
like manner, having joined with the conspirators in expelling the
tyrant Periander, transferred the government to themselves. And
generally it should be remembered that those who have secured power to
the state, whether private citizens, or magistrates, or tribes, or any
other part or section of the state, are apt to cause revolutions.
For either envy of their greatness draws others into rebellion, or
they themselves, in their pride of superiority, are unwilling to
remain on a level with others.
Revolutions also break out when opposite parties, e.g., the rich and
the people, are equally balanced, and there is little or no middle
class; for, if either party were manifestly superior, the other
would not risk an attack upon them. And, for this reason, those who
are eminent in virtue usually do not stir up insurrections, always
being a minority. Such are the beginnings and causes of the
disturbances and revolutions to which every form of government is
liable.
Revolutions are effected in two ways, by force and by fraud.
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