Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

Summary

This quote, often attributed to Greek philosopher Aristotle, highlights a common pattern observed in political systems. It suggests that republics, which are characterized by citizen participation and rule of law, tend to transition into democracies, where power is more fluid and vested in the majority. Eventually, democracies can deteriorate into despotisms, where a single ruler or ruling elite exert unrestricted control. The quote serves as a cautionary reminder that the accumulation of power and erosion of checks and balances can lead to the decline of democratic governments over time.