The Republic

by G.M.A. Grube

During the first days of his reign and for some time after, won't he smile in welcome at anyone he meets, saying that he's no tyrant, making all sorts of promises both in public and in private, freeing the people from debt, redistributing the land to them and to his followers, and pretending [e] to be gracious and gentle to all? He'd have to. {238} But I suppose that, when he has dealt with his exiled enemies by making peace with some and destroying others, so that all is quiet on that front, the first thing he does is to stir up a war, so that the people will continue to feel the need of a leader. Probably so. But also so that they'll become poor through having to pay war taxes, for that way they'll have to concern themselves with their daily needs and [567] be less likely to plot against him. Clearly. Besides, if he suspects some people of having thoughts of freedom and of not favoring his rule, can't he find a pretext for putting them at the mercy of the enemy in order to destroy them? And for all these reasons, isn't it necessary for a tyrant to be always stirring up war? It is. And because of this, isn't he all the more readily hated by the citizens? [b] Of course. Moreover, don't the bravest of those who helped to establish his tyranny and who hold positions of power within it speak freely to each other and to him, criticizing what's happening? They probably do. Then the tyrant will have to do away with all of them if he intends to rule, until he's left with neither ...

R12304021612 This is all too familiar. Almost like a playbook.