History of the Peloponnesian War

For the constitution of our city at that time was, as it happened, neither an oligarchy under equal laws[*](ie. where, as at Sparta, the ὀλίγοι, or ruling class, possessed equal rights.) nor yet a democracy; but its affairs were in the hands of a small group of powerful men—the form which is most opposed to law and the best regulated polity, and most allied to a tyranny.

These men, hoping to win still greater power for themselves if the fortunes of the Persian should prevail, forcibly kept the people down and brought him in. The city as a whole was not in control of its own actions when Thebes took the course it did, nor is it fair to reproach it for the mistakes it made when not under the rule of law.