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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Phaedrus by Plato: Dodona when out of their senses have conferred great benefits on Hellas,
both in public and private life, but when in their senses few or none. And
I might also tell you how the Sibyl and other inspired persons have given
to many an one many an intimation of the future which has saved them from
falling. But it would be tedious to speak of what every one knows.
There will be more reason in appealing to the ancient inventors of names
(compare Cratylus), who would never have connected prophecy (mantike) which
foretells the future and is the noblest of arts, with madness (manike), or
called them both by the same name, if they had deemed madness to be a
disgrace or dishonour;--they must have thought that there was an inspired
madness which was a noble thing; for the two words, mantike and manike, are
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