Oligarchy
Rule by a few, usually the wealthy, for their own advantage.
Works to read
- The Theory of the Leisure Class by Thorstein Veblen, 1899 · Great Books
- Instructions for His Generals by Frederick the Great, 1747 (Phillips translation 1944)
- A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America by John Adams, 1787-1788
- The Iron Heel by Jack London, 1908
Passages
From the texts
In an oligarchy also hired servants are not admitted to be citizens; because there a man's right to bear any office is regulated by his fortune; but mechanics are, for many citizens are very rich.
— Aristotle, Politics
Verified quotations
The rise of the Oligarchy will always remain a cause of secret wonder to the historian and the philosopher.
— Jack London, The Iron Heel
Passages are verified quotations from the library that use one of these words: oligarchy, the few, the rich. Sentences under “From the texts” are copied word for word from the full texts in this library. Read each in its context on the work's page.