It counsels Perdiccas to respond to this objection by saying that Plato was born when his fatherland had already been corrupted beyond the ability of his counsel to benefit it, while the risks of engaging in its politics were great, and that he would probably leave off counseling Perdiccas himself if he thought him incurable.
Perdiccas is advised to counter this criticism by saying that Plato was born into a world where his homeland had already been irreparably harmed, making his counsel futile, while engaging in its politics posed significant risks, and that he would likely discontinue advising Perdiccas if he thought him irredeemable.