Pagina 493 de 734

Of Political Constitutions there are three kinds; and equal in

number are the deflections from them, being, so to say,

corruptions of them.

The former are Kingship, Aristocracy, and that which recognises

the principle of wealth, which it seems appropriate to call

Timocracy (I give to it the name of a political constitution

because people commonly do so). Of these the best is Monarchy,

and Timocracy the worst.

From Monarchy the deflection is Despotism; both being Monarchies

but widely differing from each other; for the Despot looks to his

own advantage, but the King to that of his subjects: for he is in

fact no King who is not thoroughly independent and superior to

the rest in all good things, and he that is this has no further

wants: he will not then have to look to his own advantage but to

that of his subjects, for he that is not in such a position is a

mere King elected by lot for the nonce.