|
The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: laws themselves, than Sparta. But, for my part, I am disposed to think
that Lycurgus could never have attempted to establish this healthy
condition,[2] until he had first secured the unanimity of the most
powerful members of the state. I infer this for the following
reasons.[3] In other states the leaders in rank and influence do not
even desire to be thought to fear the magistrates. Such a thing they
would regard as in itself a symbol of servility. In Sparta, on the
contrary, the stronger a man is the more readily does he bow before
constituted authority. And indeed, they magnify themselves on their
humility, and on a prompt obedience, running, or at any rate not
crawling with laggard step, at the word of command. Such an example of
|
