The Complete Aristotle (eng.)

divided, recourse is had to the lot, or
to some similar expedient. But, although it may be difficult in
theory to know what is just and equal, the practical difficulty of
inducing those to forbear who can, if they like, encroach, is far
greater, for the weaker are always asking for equality and justice,
but the stronger care for none of these things.
IV
    Of the four kinds of democracy, as was said in the in the
previous discussion, the best is that which comes first in order;
it is also the oldest of them all. I am speaking of them according
to the natural classification of their inhabitants. For the best
material of democracy is an agricultural population; there is no
difficulty in forming a democracy where the mass of the people live
by agriculture or tending of cattle. Being poor, they have no
leisure, and therefore do not often attend the assembly, and not
having the necessaries of life they are always at work, and do not
covet the property of others. Indeed, they find their employment
pleasanter than the cares of government or office where no great
gains can be made out of them, for the many are more desirous of
gain than of honor. A proof is that even the ancient tyrannies were
patiently endured by them, as they still endure oligarchies, if
they are allowed to work and are not deprived of their property;
for some of them grow quickly rich and the others are well enough
off. Moreover, they have the power of electing the magistrates and
calling them to account; their ambition, if they have any, is thus
satisfied; and in some democracies, although they do not all share
in the appointment of offices, except through representatives
elected in turn out of the whole people, as at Mantinea; yet, if
they have the power of deliberating, the many are contented. Even
this form of government may be regarded as a democracy, and was
such at Mantinea. Hence it is both expedient and customary in the
aforementioned type of democracy that all should elect to offices,
and conduct scrutinies, and sit in the law-courts, but that the
great offices should be filled up by election and from persons
having a qualification; the greater requiring a greater
qualification, or, if there be no offices for which a qualification
is required, then those who are marked out by special ability
should be appointed. Under such a form of government the citizens
are sure to be governed well (for the offices will always be held
by the best persons; the people are willing enough to elect them
and are not jealous of the good). The good and the notables will
then be satisfied, for they will not be governed by men who are
their inferiors, and the persons elected will rule justly, because
others will call them to account. Every man should be responsible
to others, nor should any one be allowed to do just as he pleases;
for where absolute freedom is allowed, there is nothing to restrain
the evil which is inherent in every man. But the principle of
responsibility secures that which is the greatest good in states;
the right persons rule and are prevented from doing wrong, and the
people have their due. It is evident that this is the best kind of
democracy, and why? Because the people are drawn from a certain
class. Some of the ancient laws of most states were, all of them,
useful with a view to making the people husbandmen. They provided
either that no one should possess more than a certain quantity of
land, or that, if he did, the land should not be within a certain
distance from the town or the acropolis. Formerly in many states
there was a law forbidding any one to sell his original allotment
of land. There is a similar law attributed to Oxylus, which is to
the effect that there should be a certain portion of every man’s
land on which he could not borrow money. A useful corrective to the
evil of which I am speaking would be the law of the Aphytaeans,
who, although they are numerous, and do not possess much land, are
all of them husbandmen. For their properties are reckoned in the
census; not entire, but only in such small portions that even the
poor may have more than the amount required.
    Next best to an agricultural, and in many respects similar, are
a pastoral people, who live by their flocks; they are the best
trained of any for war, robust in body and able to camp out. The
people of whom other democracies consist are far inferior to them,
for their life is inferior; there is no room for moral excellence
in any of their employments, whether they be