SOCRATES: And when men are deceived and PHAEDRUS: That may be expected.
their notions are at variance with realities, it is clear that the error slips in through resem-SOCRATES: Shall I propose that we look for ex-blances?
amples of art and want of art, according to our notion of them, in the speech of Lysias which PHAEDRUS: Yes, that is the way.
you have in your hand, and in my own speech?
SOCRATES: Then he who would be a master of PHAEDRUS: Nothing could be better; and indeed the art must understand the real nature of ev-I think that our previous argument has been too erything; or he will never know either how to abstract and wanting in illustrations.
make the gradual departure from truth into the opposite of truth which is effected by the help of SOCRATES: Yes; and the two speeches happen resemblances, or how to avoid it?
to afford a very good example of the way in which the speaker who knows the truth may, without PHAEDRUS: He will not.
any serious purpose, steal away the hearts of his hearers. This piece of good-fortune I attribute to SOCRATES: He then, who being ignorant of the the local deities; and, perhaps, the prophets of truth aims at appearances, will only attain an the Muses who are singing over our heads may art of rhetoric which is ridiculous and is not an have imparted their inspiration to me. For I do art at all?
not imagine that I have any rhetorical art of my own.