privileges of elite citizens, and the elite collectively, must be limited and restricted when those privileges come into conflict with the collective rights of the citizens, or the individual rights of the lower classes. Few modern advocates would find reason to argue with Demosthenes' characterization of the ethos of democratic Athens: compassion for the weak, a prohibition against strong and powerful individuals acting violently toward other citizens, and a refusal to tolerate either brutal treatment by the powerful of the mass of citizens or subservience by the masses to the powerful. Yet, despite similarities in principle, there are many significant differences in practice. Modern democracies assume clear distinctions between the concepts of the state, the citizens, and the government. An elite, whose members provide the state with the experience and leadership necessary for its c
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