Although the ephors made the government really and latently democratic, yet the concentration of its action made it seemingly oligarchic; and in its secrecy, caution, vigilance, and energy, it exhibited the best of the oligarchic features.

Whatever was democratic by law was counteracted in its results by all that was aristocratic in custom.

It was a state of political freedom, but of social despotism.

This rigidity of ancient usages was binding long after its utility was past.

For what was admirable at one time became pernicious at another; what protected the infant state from dissension, stinted all luxuriance of intellect in the more matured community.