You must search
for all kinds of truth,--historical, political, scientific, and
religious,--with much reading, much observation, and much reflection. And
those who have searched longest and dug deepest will always be found to
be the most temperate, patient, and forbearing with those who have not
yet found the truth. I do not know who first said it, but he was a true
disciple of Socrates and Plato who first said it. 'Plato,' he said, 'is
my friend, and Socrates is my friend, but the truth is much more my
friend.' There is a thrill of enthusiasm, admiration and hope that goes
through the whole country and comes down out of history as often as we
hear or read of some public man parting with all his own past, as well as
with all his leaders and patrons and allies and colleagues in the
present, and taking his solitary way out after the truth. Many may call
that man Quixotic, visionary, unpractical, imprudent, and he may be all
that and more, but to follow conscience and the love of truth even when
they are for the time leading him wrong is noble, and is every way far
better both for himself and for the cause he serves, than if he were
always found following his leaders loyally and even walking in the way of
righteousness with the love of self and the love of party at bottom
ruling his heart.
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