Where this is not done
a constitutional government passes into an oligarchy, and an oligarchy
is narrowed to a rule of families; or in the opposite case
constitutional government becomes democracy, and oligarchy either
constitutional government or democracy.
It is a principle common to democracy, oligarchy, and every other
form of government not to allow the disproportionate increase of any
citizen but to give moderate honor for a long time rather than great
honor for a short time. For men are easily spoilt; not every one can
bear prosperity. But if this rule is not observed, at any rate the
honors which are given all at once should be taken away by degrees and
not all at once. Especially should the laws provide against any one
having too much power, whether derived from friends or money; if he
has, he should be sent clean out of the country. And since innovations
creep in through the private life of individuals also, there ought
to be a magistracy which will have an eye to those whose life is not
in harmony with the government, whether oligarchy or democracy or
any other. And for a like reason an increase of prosperity in any part
of the state should be carefully watched. The proper remedy for this
evil is always to give the management of affairs and offices of
state to opposite elements; such opposites are the virtuous and the
many, or the rich and the poor.
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