It is said that one of Socrates ' friends asked an oracle ( a holy person that was wise , respected and who people thought could talk to the gods ) , if there was any person wiser than Socrates in Athens . The oracle said that there was no wiser person . According to Plato 's Apology , Socrates ' life as the `` gadfly '' of Athens began when his friend Chaerephon asked the oracle at Delphi if anyone was wiser than Socrates ; the Oracle responded that none was wiser .