Read the following passage and answer the item that follows. Your answer to this item should be based on the passage only.

"Every form of rule carries within it the seed of its own excess. A monarchy ruins itself by concentrating too much in too few hands; an oligarchy ruins itself by the same few hoarding wealth rather than governing; and a democracy ruins itself no differently, by mistaking the right of every citizen to a voice for the wisdom to use it well, until the loudest opinion, not the wisest, prevails."

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage given above?