The _ostracism_ at Athens was built upon this principle.

The giddy people whom we have now under consideration, being elated with some flashes of success, which they owed to nothing less than any merit of their own, began to tyrannize over their equals, who had associated with them for their common defence.

With their prudence they renounced all appearance of justice.
They entered into wars rashly and wantonly.

If they were unsuccessful, instead of growing wiser by their misfortune, they threw the whole blame of their own misconduct on the ministers who had advised, and the generals who had conducted, those wars; until by degrees they had cut off all who could serve them in their councils or their battles.

If at any time these wars had a happier issue, it was no less difficult to deal with them on account of their pride and insolence.