Apology

, or

Defence

before his Judges, as reported by Plato. The oracle having said that there was none wiser than he, he had sought to confute the oracle, and found the wise man of the world foolish through belief in his own wisdom.

'When I left him I reasoned thus with myself, I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing, whereas I, as I do not know anything, do not fancy that I do.'

[return to footnote mark]

[Footnote 2:]

True as Dial to the Sun,
Although it be not shined upon.

Hudibras

. Part III. c. 2.