The Republic of Plato, trans. Allan Bloom, from Book VIII:
“Mustn’t it first be told how the transformation from timarchy to oligarchy takes place?”
“Yes.”
“And really,” I said, “the way it is transformed is plain even to a blind man.”
“How?”
“The treasure house full of gold,” I said, “which each man has, destroys that regime. First they seek out expenditures for themselves and pervert the laws in that direction; they themselves and their wives disobey them.”
“That’s likely,” he said.
“Next, I suppose, one man sees the other and enters into a rivalry with him, and thus they made the multitude like themselves.”
“That’s likely.”
“Well, then,” I said, “from there they progress in money-making, and the more honorable they consider it, the less honorable they consider virtue. Or isn’t virtue in tension with wealth, as though each were lying in the scale of a balance, always inclining in opposite directions?”
“Quite so,” he said.
“Surely, when wealth and the wealthy are honored in a city, virtue and the good men are less honorable.”
“Plainly.”
“Surely, what happens to be honored is practiced, and what is without honor is neglected.”
“That’s so.”
“Instead of men who love victory and honor, they finally become lovers of money-making and money; and they praise and admire the wealthy man and bring him to the ruling offices, while they dishonor the poor man.”
“Certainly.”
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