Final answer:
Teiresias laments being wise when it profits nothing, expressing the tragic nature of wisdom that cannot change outcomes or is not heeded. Socrates also encounters the burden of wisdom through his philosophical inquiries, showing the challenge of possessing knowledge that others disdain or fail to understand.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Teiresias in Sophocles' play laments the misery of being wise without profit, he touches upon a recurring theme in Greek literature: the paradox of wisdom. Tiresias, being a seer, possesses knowledge that others lack, but this insight often brings no joy, especially when that wisdom is dismissed or cannot change the course of events. This idea echoes the sentiments found in the works of Socrates, who also reflected on the nature and value of human wisdom. To be wise and aware of one's own ignorance, as Socrates suggests, may be the highest form of wisdom. Yet, this wisdom can be a source of isolation and difficulty when it goes unheeded or results in the condemnation from those unable to recognize their own limitations.
The phrase '...what misery to be wise/When wisdom profits nothing!' implies a tragic awareness that possessing profound knowledge or truth does not necessarily lead to happiness or beneficial outcomes. Teiresias understands that his wisdom will not alter the fate of Oedipus or the trajectory of the events unfolding. It reflects a sober recognition that sometimes, wisdom can be more of a burden than a gift, particularly when it cannot be acted upon or when it leads to strife, as also shown in the experiences of Socrates.
In embracing the role of the wise man compelled by divine will to seek truth and expose false wisdom, Socrates experienced first-hand the human tendency to resent those who challenge prevailing notions of knowledge and authority. Yet, despite the opposition, Socrates pursued his calling, underscoring the philosophy that true wisdom lies in understanding the limitations of one's own knowledge—an idea that resonates with the disillusionment of Teiresias with regard to the impact of his own insight.