[564d]
as we have described, grows up in it because of
the licence, no less than in the oligarchic state.”
“That is so.” “But it is far fiercer in this
state than in that.” “How so?”
“There, because it is not held in honor, but is kept out of
office, it is not exercised and does not grow vigorous. But in a democracy
this is the dominating class, with rare exceptions, and the fiercest part of
it makes speeches and transacts business, and the remainder swarms and
settles about the speaker's stand and keeps up a buzzing1 and
1 Cf. 573 A.
Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vols. 5 & 6 translated by Paul Shorey. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1969.
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