What are the main similarities between democracy and monarchy?

There are
more differences than similarities. A monarchy relies on the rule of one person, while a
democracy rules through a consensus of the people. Even with this difference, there are some
commonalities. Many monarchies have claimed to have ruled in the name of God, while many
democracies have claimed to rule in the name of the governed. In other words, the leaders of
both forms of government seek some sort of legitimacy outside of themselves.

Most monarchies are hereditary. While democracies allow people from all walks of life
to be leaders, there are tendencies to favor leaders with strong family ties to governing. Both
democracy and monarchy were praised and demonized in Plato's Republic.
According to Plato, a monarchy could be good if it had a good monarch, but bad if it had a
tyrant. A democracy could be good if it responded to the will of the people, but it could turn
into anarchy if everyone acted selfishly.