“To be loyal to the truth is of more account than to be merely successfulin formulating it.”—Popular Science Monthly for December.
Indeed it is; for loyalty to truth is the prior condition of successin formulating or stating it, and that loyalty not only precedes thespecial success in formulating it, but is the prior cause of universalsuccess in its attainment. Special perceptive powers and favorableopportunities may enable scientists to ascertain certain truths, as alamp may enable them to discover a few objects near them whichdarkness hides from others, but loyalty to truth reveals, like daylight,all that lies within our horizon, for it opens widely all theavenues between the mind and universal nature, and prevents ourmental transparency from being darkened in any direction or relation.He who has this loyalty dominant in his nature never pronouncesanything false which subsequent investigation, or the investigationby others, proves true. He never becomes an obstacle to the spreadof any truth. He is always the first to welcome a new truth and thelast to falter in sustaining it. He is always ready to recognize thesame sincerity and fidelity in others, and to give a kindly welcome tothe labors