To Socrates, madness was not merely a descent into chaos, but rather a divine spark igniting the soul, propelling one beyond the mundane confines of everyday existence. He saw madness as a conduit to truth, a gateway to realms of knowledge unreachable by mere mortals tethered to the earth.
Yet, Socrates cautioned against embracing madness blindly, for within its tempestuous embrace lurked the dangers of delusion and folly. He believed in a higher form of madness, a divine madness bestowed by the gods themselves, which inspired poets, prophets, and philosophers alike to transcend the limitations of mortal understanding.