But as to the middle comedy, which came next, observe what it was, and
again, for what object the new comedy was introduced, which gradually
sank down into a mere mimic artifice. That some good things are said even
by these writers, everybody knows: but the whole plan of such poetry and
dramaturgy, to what end does it look?

7. How plain does it appear that there is not another condition of life
so well suited for philosophizing as this in which thou now happenest to
be.

8. A branch cut off from the adjacent branch must of necessity be cut off
from the whole tree also. So too a man when he is separated from another
man has fallen off from the whole social community. Now as to a branch,
another cuts it off; but a man by his own act separates himself from his
neighbor when he hates him and turns away from him, and he does not know
that he has at the same time cut himself off from the whole social
system. Yet he has this privilege certainly from Zeus, who framed
society, for it is in our power to grow again to that which is near to
us, and again to become a part which helps to make up the whole. However,
if it often happens, this kind of separation, it makes it difficult for
that which detaches itself to be brought to unity and to be restored to
its former condition. Finally, the branch, which from the first grew
together with the tree, and has continued to have one life with it, is
not like that which after being cut off is then ingrafted, for this is
something like what the gardeners mean when they say that it grows with
the rest of the tree, but that it has not the same mind with it.

9. As those who try to stand in thy way when thou art proceeding
according to right reason will not be able to turn thee aside from thy