phaedo   

And is the soul seen or not seen?

Not by man, Socrates.

And by "seen" and "not seen" is meant by us that which is or is

not visible to the eye of man?

Yes, to the eye of man.

And what do we say of the soul? is that seen or not seen?

Not seen.

Unseen then?

Yes.

Then the soul is more like to the unseen, and the body to the seen?

That is most certain, Socrates.

And were we not saying long ago that the soul when using the body as

an instrument of perception, that is to say, when using the sense of

sight or hearing or some other sense (for the meaning of perceiving

through the body is perceiving through the senses)-were we not

saying that the soul too is then dragged by the body into the region

of the changeable, and wanders and is confused; the world spins

round her, and she is like a drunkard when under their influence?

Very true.

But when returning into herself she reflects; then she passes into

the realm of purity, and eternity, and immortality, and

unchangeableness, which are her kindred, and with them she ever lives,

when she is by herself and is not let or hindered; then she ceases

from her erring ways, and being in communion with the unchanging is

unchanging. And this state of the soul is called wisdom?

That is well and truly said, Socrates, he replied.

And to which class is the soul more nearly alike and akin, as far as

may be inferred from this argument, as well as from the preceding one?

I think, Socrates, that, in the opinion of everyone who follows

the argument, the soul will be infinitely more like the unchangeable

even the most stupid person will not deny that.

And the body is more like the changing?