The same things are best both for individuals and for states, and these are the things which the legislator ought to implant in the minds of his citizens.
AristotleA government which is composed of the middle class more nearly approximates to democracy than to oligarchy, and is the safest of the imperfect forms of government.
AristotleOnce more: there are three offices according to whose directions the highest magistrates are chosen in certain states - guardians of the law, probuli, councilors - of these, the guardians of the law are an aristocratical, the probuli an oligarchical, the council a democratical institution.
Aristotle