Aristotle. Book 4 Chapter 6.

Aristotle was a philosopher in Ancient Greece. In Book 4 Chapter 6 of his book, Politics, Aristotle lays out the different kinds of regimes that a city can take (a city being an aggregation of households to live well and nobly as a community). He lays out first the democracy that is the best, then goes down a list of democracies until we land at mob rule. Then, he lays out different kinds of oligarchy, until finally landing at nepotism.

One note here, Aristotle seems to be describing the life cycle of regimes. He does not state that explicitly, but what comes to my mind is how regimes may corrupt and degrade over time to a point that there is no law.

Then, for example, a revolution from democracy (rule by the many) to oligarchy (rule by the few) may occur. And law may prevail. But over time, as the preeminent and well-suited officials gain power, and want to keep power, they may become soft and ill fitting over time, leading to abuse of their position to keep positions of power that they are no longer qualified to hold. In that case, the many may revolt and set up a democratic regime with rule by law. At first the de facto laws don’t change but over time they exact their vengeance on the well off until no longer is the regime rules by law but by the mob. Repeat to infinity.