The most famous self-identified gadfly was the Greek philosopher .
: In Plato's Apology , Socrates compared the state of Athens to a large, sluggish horse and himself to a gadfly. He believed his divine mission was to "sting" the city into alertness through constant questioning and introspection. gadfly
: For Socrates, being a gadfly wasn't about being annoying for its own sake; it was an indispensable part of the moral and intellectual education of the citizenry. Modern Applications The most famous self-identified gadfly was the Greek