Plato, Laws 711a

οὗ δʼ ἂν τοῦτο ἀριθμῷ μὲν βραχύτατον, ἰσχυρότατον δέ, καθάπερ ἐν τυραννίδι, γένηται, ταύτῃ καὶ τότε τάχος καὶ ῥᾳστώνη τῆς μεταβολῆς γίγνεσθαι φιλεῖ. πῶς; οὐ γὰρ μανθάνομεν. καὶ μὴν εἴρηταί γʼ ἡμῖν οὐχ ἅπαξ ἀλλʼ οἶμαι πολλάκις· ὑμεῖς δὲ τάχα οὐδὲ τεθέασθε τυραννουμένην πόλιν. οὐδέ γε ἐπιθυμητὴς ἔγωγʼ εἰμὶ τοῦ θεάματος.

and wherever the State authorities are at once strongest and fewest in number, then and there the changes are usually carried out with speed and facility. How so? We do not understand. Yet surely it has been stated not once, I imagine, but many times over. But you, very likely, have never so much as set eyes on a monarchical State. No, nor have I any craving for such a sight.