After this, I said, imagine the enlightenment or ignorance of our nature
in a figure. Behold: human beings living in a sort of underground den,
which has a mouth open toward the light and reaching all across the den;
they have been here from their childhood, and have their legs and necks
chained so that they can not move, and can see only before them; for the
chains are arranged in such a manner as to prevent them from turning
round their heads. At a distance above and behind them the light of a
fire is blazing, and between the fire and the prisoners there is a
raised way; and you will see, if you look, a low wall built along the
way, like the screen which marionette-players have before them, over
which they show the puppets.