Chapter 7

There are besides two other states, a democracy and an oligarchy, one of which all speak of, and it is always esteemed a species of the four sorts; and thus they reckon them up; a monarchy, an oligarchy, a democracy, and this fourth which they call an aristocracy. There is also a fifth, which bears a name that is also common to the other four, namely, a state: but as this is seldom to be met with, it has escaped those who have endeavoured to enumerate the different sorts of governments, which [1293b] they fix at four only, as does Plato in his Republic.

There are also two other forms of government, democracy and oligarchy. Everyone speaks of one of these, and it is always counted among the four types. These types are listed as monarchy, oligarchy, democracy, and a fourth called aristocracy. There is also a fifth form, called a state, a name also used for the other four. But this fifth form is so rare that those who have tried to list the different governments have overlooked it. [1293b] They recognize only four types, as Plato does in his Republic.

An aristocracy, of which I have already treated in the first book, is rightly called so; for a state governed by the best men, upon the most virtuous principles, and not upon any hypothesis, which even good men may propose, has alone a right to be called an aristocracy, for it is there only that a man is at once a good man and a good citizen; while in other states men are good only relative to those states. Moreover, there are some other states which are called by the same name, that differ both from oligarchies and free states, wherein not only the rich but also the virtuous have a share in the administration; and have therefore acquired the name of aristocracies; for in those governments wherein virtue is not their common care, there are still men of worth and approved goodness. Whatever state, then, like the Carthaginians, favours the rich, the virtuous, and the citizens at large, is a sort of aristocracy: when only the two latter are held in esteem, as at Lacedaemon, and the state is jointly composed of these, it is a virtuous democracy. These are the two species of aristocracies after the first, which is the best of all governments. There is also a third, which is, whenever a free state inclines to the dominion of a few.

The aristocracy I discussed in the first book rightly deserves its name. Only a state governed by the best men, on the most virtuous principles, has the right to be called an aristocracy. Its rule does not rest on some assumption, even one that good men may propose. For only in such a state is a good man also a good citizen. In other states, men are good only by the standards of those states. Some other states are also called aristocracies, though they differ from both oligarchies and free states. In these states, not only the rich but also the virtuous share in government. These states have therefore earned the name aristocracies. For even in governments where virtue is not a shared concern, there are still worthy men of proven goodness. Any state that, like the Carthaginians, favors the rich, the virtuous, and citizens at large is a kind of aristocracy. When only the virtuous and citizens at large are valued, as at Lacedaemon, the result is a virtuous democracy. In such a state, these two groups jointly make up the government. These are the two types of aristocracy besides the first, which is the best of all governments. There is also a third type, when a free state leans toward rule by a few.