The Dissertations of Maximus Tyrius

and not in theoretic virtue. However, in every other part of this work, he follows the footsteps of Plato as closely and unfolds his doctrines as accurately as can be expected from one who lived before the restoration of the Platonic philosophy by that golden chain of heroes, of which the great Plotinus Plotinus was a major philosopher of the Neoplatonic school, active in the 3rd century AD. is the topmost link.

This philosophy, indeed, as I have observed elsewhere In my Introduction to the Philosophy and Writings of Plato, prefixed to volume one of my translation of his works, from which this entire paragraph is extracted., at first shone forth through Plato with an occult and venerable splendor. It is due to the hidden manner in which he delivered his ideas that their depth was not fathomed until many ages after they were first promulgated. When finally understood, this philosophy was often treated by superficial readers with ridicule and contempt. Plato is not unique in delivering his philosophy in an occult manner, for this was the custom of all the great ancients. This custom did not originate from a desire to become tyrants of knowledge or to keep the multitude in ignorance, but from a profound