Attempts of which the motive is ambition arise in a different way as
well as in those already mentioned. There are men who will not risk
their lives in the hope of gains and honors however great, but who
nevertheless regard the killing of a tyrant simply as an extraordinary
action which will make them famous and honorable in the world; they
wish to acquire, not a kingdom, but a name. It is rare, however, to
find such men; he who would kill a tyrant must be prepared to lose his
life if he fail. He must have the resolution of Dion, who, when he
made war upon Dionysius, took with him very few troops, saying 'that
whatever measure of success he might attain would be enough for him,
even if he were to die the moment he landed; such a death would be
welcome to him.' this is a temper to which few can attain.
Once more, tyrannies, like all other governments, are destroyed from
without by some opposite and more powerful form of government. That
such a government will have the will to attack them is clear; for
the two are opposed in principle; and all men, if they can, do what
they will. Democracy is antagonistic to tyranny, on the principle of
Hesiod, 'Potter hates Potter,' because they are nearly akin, for the
extreme form of democracy is tyranny; and royalty and aristocracy
are both alike opposed to tyranny, because they are constitutions of a
different type.
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