therefore what the _monarch_ does, is said to be done out of envy to their virtues; which if it were done by the _people_, would be accounted policy. [Sidenote: Single persons have no less liberty under a monarch, than under the people.] 8. There are some, who therefore imagine _monarchy_ to be more grievous then _democracy_, because there is less liberty in that, than in this. If by liberty they mean an exemption from that subjection which is due to the laws, that is, the commands of the _people_; neither in _democracy_, nor in any other state of government whatsoever, is there any such kind of liberty. If they suppose liberty to consist in this, that there be few laws, few prohibitions, and those too such, that except they were forbidden, there could be no peace; then I deny that there is more liberty in _democracy_ than _monarchy_; for the one as truly consisteth with such a liberty, as the other. For although the word _liberty_ may in large and ample letters be written over the gates of any city whatsoever, yet is it not meant the _subject’s_, but the _city’s_ liberty; neither can that word with better right be inscribed on a city which is governed by the _people_, than that which is ruled by a _monarch_. But when private men or subjects demand liberty, under the name of liberty they ask not for liberty, but _dominion_; which yet for want of understanding they little consider. For if every man would grant the same liberty to another, which he desires for himself, as is commanded by the law of nature; that same natural state would return again, in which all men may by right do all things; which if they knew, they would abhor, as being worse than all kinds of civil subjection whatsoever. But if any man desire to have his single freedom, the rest being bound, what does he else demand but to have the _dominion_? For whoso is freed from all bonds, is lord over all those that still continue bound. Subjects therefore have no greater liberty in a _popular_, than in a _monarchical_ state. That which deceives them, is the equal participation of command and public places. For where the authority is in the people, single subjects do so far forth share in it, as they are parts of the people ruling; and they equally partake in public offices, so far forth as they have equal voices in choosing magistrates and public ministers. And this is that which Aristotle aimed at, himself also through the custom of that time miscalling dominion liberty. (_Polit._ lib. vi. cap. 2.) _In a popular state there is liberty by supposition; which is a speech of the vulgar, as if no man were free out of this state._ From whence, by the way, we may collect, that those subjects who in a _monarchy_ deplore their lost liberty, do only stomach this, that they are not received to the steerage of the commonweal. [Sidenote: It is no disadvantage to the subjects, that they are not all admitted to the public deliberations.]