2,400 Year Old Wisdom On The NSA, Edward Snowden, And Gun Control

But once in power, a tyrant uses all available means to hold on to power, including spying on his people:

 

 

“A tyrant should also endeavor to know what each of his subjects says or does, and should employ spies . . . and . . . eavesdroppers . . . [T]he fear of informers prevents people from speaking their minds, and if they do, they are more easily found out.”

Furthermore, Aristotle tells us that a tyrant thrives by creating division and conflict– “to sow quarrels among the citizens; friends should be embroiled with friends, the people with the notables [the rich]. . .”

Controlling the economy and stealing the citizens’ wealth is also another mark of a tyrant:

 

 

“Another practice of tyrants is to multiply taxes. . . [and] impoverish his subjects; he thus provides against the maintenance of a guard by the citizen and the people, having to keep hard at work, are prevented from conspiring.”

And as Aristotle points out, a tyrant also attempts to disarm the people such that “his subjects shall be incapable of action” because “they will not attempt to overthrow a tyranny, if they are powerless.”

Naturally, a tyrant “is also fond of making war in order that his subjects may have something to doand be always in want of a leader.”

Aristotle also tells us that tyrants hunt down those who oppose their power:

 

 

“It is characteristic of a tyrant to dislike everyone who has dignity or independence; he wants to be alone in his glory, but anyone who claims a like dignity or asserts his independence encroaches upon his perogative, and is hated by him as an enemy to his power.”

Ultimately, though, Aristotle concludes that “No freeman, if he can escape from [tyranny], will endure such a government.”

He’s right. And in the past, people had to rise up in the streets to defeat tyranny.