Wedded to Truth

If a man be sincerely wedded to truth, he must make up his mind to find her a portionless virgin, and he must take her for herself alone. The contract, too, must be to love, cherish, and obey her, not only until death, but beyond it; for this is a union that must survive not only death, but time, the conqueror of death. The adorer of truth, therefore, is above all present things. Firm in the midst of temptation, and frank in the midst of treachery, he will be attacked by those who have prejudices, simply because he is without them; decried as a bad bargain by all who want to purchase, because he alone is not to be bought; and abused by all parties, because he is the advocate of none—like the dolphin, which is always painted more crooked than a ram's horn, although every naturalist knows that it is the straightest fish that swims.—Cotton