-And democracy has her own good, of which the insatiable desire brings her to dissolution?
-What good?
-Freedom, (...) which, as they tell you in democracy, is the glory of the State.
(...)
-I was going to observe that the insatiable desire of this and the neglect of other things introduces the change in democracy, which occasions a demand for tyranny.
-How so?
-When a democracy which is thirsting for freedom has evil cup-bearers presiding over the feast, and has drunk too deeply of the strong wine of freedom, then (...) she calls them to account and punishes them, and says they are cursed oligarchs.
(...)
-By degrees the anarchy finds a way into private houses, and ends by getting among the animals and infecting them.
-How do you mean?
-I mean that the father grows accustomed to descend to the level of his sons and to fear them, and the son is on a level with his father, he having no respect or reverence for either of his parents; and this is his freedom (...) In such a state of society the master fears and flatters his scholars, and the scholars despise their masters and tutors; young and old are all alike; and the young man is on a level with the old, and is ready to compete with him in word or deed; and old man condescend to the young and are full of plesantry and gaiety; they are loth to be thought morose and authoritative, and therefore they adopt the manners of the young (...) nor should I forget to tell of the liberty and equality of the two sexes in relation to each other (...) and I must add ... how much greater is the liberty which the animals which are under the dominion of man have in a democracy than in any other State: for truly... (they) have a way of marching along with all the rights and dignities of freemen (...)
(...)
-Such (...) is the fair and glorious beginning out of which springs tyranny (...) The ruin of oligarchy is the ruin of democracy; the same disease magnified by liberty overmasters democracy (...) The excess of liberty, whether in States or individuals, seems only to pass in excess of slavery.
-Yes, the natural order.
-And so tyranny naturally arises out of democracy ...
(Plato,The Republic: 562-4)
-What good?
-Freedom, (...) which, as they tell you in democracy, is the glory of the State.
(...)
-I was going to observe that the insatiable desire of this and the neglect of other things introduces the change in democracy, which occasions a demand for tyranny.
-How so?
-When a democracy which is thirsting for freedom has evil cup-bearers presiding over the feast, and has drunk too deeply of the strong wine of freedom, then (...) she calls them to account and punishes them, and says they are cursed oligarchs.
(...)
-By degrees the anarchy finds a way into private houses, and ends by getting among the animals and infecting them.
-How do you mean?
-I mean that the father grows accustomed to descend to the level of his sons and to fear them, and the son is on a level with his father, he having no respect or reverence for either of his parents; and this is his freedom (...) In such a state of society the master fears and flatters his scholars, and the scholars despise their masters and tutors; young and old are all alike; and the young man is on a level with the old, and is ready to compete with him in word or deed; and old man condescend to the young and are full of plesantry and gaiety; they are loth to be thought morose and authoritative, and therefore they adopt the manners of the young (...) nor should I forget to tell of the liberty and equality of the two sexes in relation to each other (...) and I must add ... how much greater is the liberty which the animals which are under the dominion of man have in a democracy than in any other State: for truly... (they) have a way of marching along with all the rights and dignities of freemen (...)
(...)
-Such (...) is the fair and glorious beginning out of which springs tyranny (...) The ruin of oligarchy is the ruin of democracy; the same disease magnified by liberty overmasters democracy (...) The excess of liberty, whether in States or individuals, seems only to pass in excess of slavery.
-Yes, the natural order.
-And so tyranny naturally arises out of democracy ...
(Plato,The Republic: 562-4)
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