Some people think that the interference of Russia in U.S. politics is a new idea.
But the Spartans tried to put a “strong man” in charge of Athens, their rival.
They were not talking about strong leader — just a tyrant.
They argued that if you consider another group of people your enemy, you want them to have the weakest leadership possible, a leader who would make the masses subservient, the polity sick, the people weak.
The Spartans, who called themselves Lacedaemonians, had decided that the power of Athens was growing and thus threatening. So they called their allies together and announced plans to install a tyrant in Athens.
The allies grumbled, but only Socleas of Corinth spoke up.
“Whatever next?” he said. “Will the heavens be under the earth and the earth up in the sky on top of the heavens? Will men habitually live in the sea and fish live where men did before? It’s a topsy-turvy world if you Lacedaemonians are really planning to abolish equal rights and restore tyrants to their states, when there is nothing known to man that is more unjust or bloodthirsty than tyranny. If you think it’s such a good idea for states to be ruled by tyrants, you should take the lead and set up a tyrant for yourselves before wanting to do so for others.”
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