'What is it ?' That God governs all things, and that chance and opportunity co-operate with Him.

And according to yet a third view, art has part with them, for surely in a storm it is well to have a pilot?
And the same is true of legislation: even if circumstances are favourable, a skilful lawgiver is still necessary.

'Most true.' All artists would pray for certain conditions under which to exercise their art: and would not the legislator do the same?
'Certainly ?' Come, legislator, let us say to him, and what are the conditions which you would have?
He will answer, Grant me a city which is ruled by a tyrant; and let the tyrant be young, mindful, teachable, courageous, magnanimous; and let him have the inseparable condition of all virtue, which is temperance--not prudence, but that natural temperance which is the gift of children and animals, and is hardly reckoned among goods--with this he must be endowed, if the state is to acquire the form most conducive to happiness in the speediest manner.
And I must add one other condition: the tyrant must be fortunate, and his good fortune must consist in his having the co-operation of a great legislator.

When God has done all this, He has done the best which He can for a state; not so well if He has given them two legislators instead of one, and less and less well if He has given them a great many.

An orderly tyranny most easily passes into the perfect state; in the second degree, a monarchy; in the third degree, a democracy; an oligarchy is worst of all.