Fragment 8
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What opposes unites, and the finest attunement stems from things bearing in opposite directions, and all things come about by strife (Robinson).
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Commentary
[ Hide commentary ]This fragment is divided into three phrases. Most commentators agree that Aristotle (the source for this fragment) is merely paraphrasing or quoting from memory.
The last phrase, καὶ πάντα κατ' ἔριν γίνεσθαι ('all things come about by strife'), is most likely a paraphrase of fragment 80.
The middle phrase, ἐκ τῶν διαφερόντων καλλίστην ἁρμονίαν ('the finest attunement stems from things bearing in opposite directions'), Marcovich argues, is most likely a paraphrase of fragment 51.
The first phrase is not attested elsewhere. Robinson noticed the Ionic word ἀντίξουν ('opposes') and argued from this that the first phrase contains Heraclitus' actual words.