Socrates and analogies

The power of analogies is made clear when Socrates speaks of his "solar eclipse". Socrates stated I feared that my soul would be altogether blinded if I looked at things with my eyes and tryed to grasp them with each of my senses. So I thought I must take refuge in discussions and investigate the truth of things by means of words." (Phaedo 50) Immediately after reading this portion of the work my mind was clear. I took my own stance on what Socrates stated and I understood this as meaning you cannot merely rely on your outward perceptions but conversations and actual facts. People to often depend on what they see therefore forgoing the actual facts and overlooking the truths of the situation. As is characteristic of Socrates, this relates back the search and grasping of truth. However, this analogy is one that clearly conveys the necessity of investigation on truth by facts and words, rather than a brief outward perception.