Montesquieu
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The corruption of each government almost always begins with the corruption of the principles.
Book VIII. On the corruption of the principles of the three governments
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VIII.1 The overall argument of this book VIII.2 On the corruption of the principle of democracy The principle of democracy becomes corrupt not only when the spirit of equality is lost, but also when the spirit of extreme equality is adopted and everyone wants to be equal to those he chooses to command him. At that point the people, unable to bear the very power they confer, want to do (…)
VIII.3 On the spirit of extreme equality The true spirit of equality is as far from the spirit of extreme equality as heaven is from earth. The former does not consist of seeing to it that everyone commands, or that no one is commanded ; but in obeying and commanding one’s equals. It does not seek to avoid having masters, but to have (…)
VIII.4 A particular cause of corruption of the people Great achievements, especially ones to which the people contribute greatly, make them so proud that it is no longer possible to lead them. Jealous of the magistrates, they become jealous of the magistracy ; enemy of those who govern, they are soon the enemy of the constitution. That is how the (…)
VIII.5 On the corruption of the principle of aristocracy Aristocracy becomes corrupt when the power of the nobles becomes arbitrary ; there can be no more virtue in those who govern, nor in those who are governed.
When the ruling families observe the laws, it is a monarchy with several monarchs, and which is by its nature very good ; almost all (…)VIII.6 On the corruption of the principle of monarchy As democracies are doomed when the people divest the senate, the magistrates, and the judges of their functions, monarchies are corrupted when the prerogatives of guilds or the privileges of the cities are progressively stripped away. The first case tends to the despotism of all ; the other, to (…)
VIII.7 Continuation of the same subject The principle of monarchy becomes corrupt when the greatest dignities are marks of the greatest servitude, and when the grandees are divested of the peoples’ respect and are made into the vile instruments of arbitrary power.
It becomes even more corrupt when honor has been placed in (…)VIII.8 The danger of corruption of the principle of the monarchical government The problem is not when the state goes from moderate government to another moderate government, as from republic to monarchy, or from monarchy to republic, but when it falls and plunges from a moderate government into despotism.
Most of the peoples of Europe are still governed by moral (…)VIII.9 To what extent the nobility is prone to defend the throne The English nobility buried itself with Charles I under the debris of the throne ; and before that, when Philip II uttered the word liberty to French ears, the crown was always supported by the nobility that holds to the honor of obeying a king but considers it a supreme infamy to share (…)
VIII.10 On corruption of the principle of despotic government The principle of the despotic government is constantly being corrupted because it is its nature to be corrupt. Other governments perish because particular accidents violate their principle ; this one perishes from its inner vice when some accidental causes do not prevent its principle from (…)