But it is necessary to speak a little more fully concerning each of these polities, and to show what each of them is; for they are attended with certain doubts. But he that reasons as a philosopher in every discussion, and has not an eye to action only, but also to contemplation, ought not to overlook or omit any thing, but should render the truth about every thing manifest. A tyranny, indeed, is as we have said a monarchy, possessing a despotic power over the political community. But an oligarchy is, when men of property are the lords of the polity; and a democracy on the contrary is, when those who do not possess much property, but are poor, have the supreme authority. The first doubt, therefore, is concerning the definition. For if many who are rich should happen to be the lords of the city; but it is a democracy, when the multitude have the supreme authority; and in a similar manner again, if it should happen that the poor are fewer than the rich, but being more excellent characters, should be the lords of the polity; though where a few have the supreme authority, they say it is an oligarchy; if this should happen to be the case, it would seem that we have not well defined the several polities. Nay, even though some one should add paucity to opulence, and multitude to indigence, and should thus denominate the polities, calling an oligarchy, indeed, that government in which the rich being few in number, have the supreme authority; but a democracy that state in which the poor who are numerous, possess it, there will still be another doubt. For by what name shall we call the polities we have just mentioned? I mean, the polity in which the greater number are rich, and that in which the less number are poor; each of these polities possessing the supreme power, if there is no other polity besides those we have enumerated. Reason, therefore, appears to make it evident, that it is accidental for a few or many to have the supreme authority, the former in oligarchies, but the latter in democracies, because the rich are few and the poor many every where. Hence, it does not happen that the before-mentioned causes produce the difference between the two polities; but that by which a democracy and an oligarchy differ from each other is poverty and wealth. And it is necessary, indeed, where the government is on account of wealth, whether those who have the supreme power are few or many, that the polity should be an oligarchy; but where the supreme authority is in the hands of the poor, that it should be a democracy. It happens, however, as we have said, that the one are few, but the other many. For the few are rich; but all partake of liberty. And from these causes, both contend with each other for the administration.
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