The civilized world seems at last to be proceeding to the conviction of that fundamental and manifest truth, that the powers of government are but a trust, and that they cannot be lawfully exercised but for the good of the community. As knowledge is more and more extended, this conviction becomes more and more general. Knowledge, in truth, is the great sun in the firmament. Life and power are scattered with all its beams." - Meaning and context.">
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p. 74
“

The civilized world seems at last to be proceeding to the conviction of that fundamental and manifest truth, that the powers of government are but a trust, and that they cannot be lawfully exercised but for the good of the community. As knowledge is more and more extended, this conviction becomes more and more general. Knowledge, in truth, is the great sun in the firmament. Life and power are scattered with all its beams.

— Daniel Webster

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The civilized world seems at last to be proceeding to the conviction of that fundamental and manifest truth, that the powers of government are but a trust, and that they cannot be lawfully exercised but for the good of the community. As knowledge is more and more extended, this conviction becomes more and more general. Knowledge, in truth, is the great sun in the firmament. Life and power are scattered with all its beams." in the context of "p. 74" to mean that wisdom is timeless.

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Source: Wikiquote: "Daniel Webster" (Quotes, Address on Laying the Cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument (1825): Address on Laying the Cornerstone of the Bunker Hill Monument (17 June 1825) Full text online) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app

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Daniel Webster

About Daniel Webster

Daniel Webster (18 January 1782 – 25 October 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as a Senator and as Secretary of State. Famed for his ability as an orator, Webster was one of the most important figures in the Second Party System from the 1820s to the 1850s.