2504. People like this cause the greatest trouble for those who are laboring for the public weal, whom they despise and consider to be slaves, nor do they begrudge them any joy of life, so that they might carry out their functions with pleasure, but regard them as being far below themselves, as if they were born to servitude, and as if they themselves were born to rule. So they deprive them of all enjoyment, put them in disgrace with their master, who then finally looks on them as vile people and his flatterers as lords whom he greatly esteems. Thus he takes away from his servants all comfort, becoming himself like those flatterers, because he takes them into his circle on account of their flatteries. In short, they create all kinds of trouble for the servants, for the commonwealth, depriving them of all the joy of life, consolation, and hope, destroying the citizens and thereby the state.