And therefore the Lacedaemonians put down most of
the tyrannies, and so did the Syracusans during the time when they
were well governed.
Again, tyrannies are destroyed from within, when the reigning family
are divided among themselves, as that of Gelo was, and more recently
that of Dionysius; in the case of Gelo because Thrasybulus, the
brother of Hiero, flattered the son of Gelo and led him into
excesses in order that he might rule in his name. Whereupon the family
got together a party to get rid of Thrasybulus and save the tyranny;
but those of the people who conspired with them seized the opportunity
and drove them all out. In the case of Dionysius, Dion, his own
relative, attacked and expelled him with the assistance of the people;
he afterwards perished himself.
There are two chief motives which induce men to attack tyrannies-
hatred and contempt. Hatred of tyrants is inevitable, and contempt
is also a frequent cause of their destruction. Thus we see that most
of those who have acquired, have retained their power, but those who
have inherited, have lost it, almost at once; for, living in luxurious
ease, they have become contemptible, and offer many opportunities to
their assailants. Anger, too, must be included under hatred, and
produces the same effects. It is often times even more ready to
strike- the angry are more impetuous in making an attack, for they
do not follow rational principle.
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