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The first of these declining States is timocracy, or the

government of soldiers and lovers of honour, which answers to the

Spartan State; this is a government of force, in which education

is not inspired by the Muses, but imposed by the law, and in

which all the finer elements of organization have disappeared.

The philosopher himself has lost the love of truth, and the

soldier, who is of a simpler and honester nature, rules in his

stead. The individual who answers to timocracy has some

noticeable qualities. He is described as ill educated, but, like

the Spartan, a lover of literature; and although he is a harsh

master to his servants he has no natural superiority over them.

His character is based upon a reaction against the circumstances

of his father, who in a troubled city has retired from politics;

and his mother, who is dissatisfied at her own position, is

always urging him towards the life of political ambition.