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But Despotism is on a contrary footing to this Kingship, because

the Despot pursues his own good: and in the case of this its

inferiority is most evident, and what is worse is contrary to

what is best. The Transition to Despotism is made from Kingship,

Despotism being a corrupt form of Monarchy, that is to say, the

bad King comes to be a Despot.

From Aristocracy to Oligarchy the transition is made by the fault

of the Rulers in distributing the public property contrary to

right proportion; and giving either all that is good, or the

greatest share, to themselves; and the offices to the same

persons always, making wealth their idol; thus a few bear rule

and they bad men in the place of the best.

From Timocracy the transition is to Democracy, they being

contiguous: for it is the nature of Timocracy to be in the hands

of a multitude, and all in the same grade of property are equal.

Democracy is the least vicious of all, since herein the form of

the constitution undergoes least change.