But while Dionysius its tyrant reigned there, nothing of all its wealth belonged to the people, and the people were nothing better than the slaves of one master.

Thus, wherever I behold a tyrant, I know that the social constitution must be not merely vicious and corrupt, as I stated yesterday, but in strict truth no social constitution at all.
XXXII.

_Laelius._ You have spoken admirably, my Scipio, and I see the point of your observations.
_Scipio._ You grant, then, that a state which is entirely in the power of a faction cannot justly be entitled a political community?
_Laelius._ That is evident.
_Scipio._ You judge most correctly.

For what was the State of Athens when, during the great Peloponnesian war, she fell under the unjust domination of the thirty tyrants?
The antique glory of that city, the imposing aspect of its edifices, its theatre, its gymnasium, its porticoes, its temples, its citadel, the admirable sculptures of Phidias, and the magnificent harbor of Piraeus--did they constitute it a commonwealth?
_Laelius._ Certainly not, because these did not constitute the real welfare of the community.
_Scipio._ And at Rome, when the decemvirs ruled without appeal from their decisions, in the third year of their power, had not liberty lost all its securities and all its blessings?
_Laelius._ Yes; the welfare of the community was no longer consulted, and the people soon roused themselves, and recovered their appropriate rights.
XXXIII.

_Scipio._ I now come to the third, or democratical, form of government, in which a considerable difficulty presents itself, because all things are there said to lie at the disposition of the people, and are carried into execution just as they please.