It is the nature of truth in general, as of some ores in

Hear now the words of Edgar Allan Poe, spoken as if from the darkened chamber of eternity: *“It is the nature of truth in general, as of some ores in particular, to be *richest when most superficial.” At first glance, this saying may puzzle the mind, for have we not been taught since childhood that the deepest truths lie buried, and that wisdom must be mined from the caverns of labor and thought? Yet Poe reminds us of another mystery—that sometimes the richest treasure gleams upon the very surface, awaiting only the eye that can see. Thus, truth is not always hidden in the abyss; often it shines like gold dust in the light of day, scattered across the sands for any who have the courage to stoop and gather.

Consider the miner in the hills. He digs and digs, descending into darkness, his hands torn, his lungs choked by dust. Yet when he emerges, weary and broken, he may find that the richest vein of ore lay near the surface, untouched, glistening in the open air. So it is with truth. We often imagine that only those who dive into unfathomable depths will find wisdom, yet the most nourishing truths are sometimes the simplest ones—the truths so plain, so visible, that men overlook them in their hunger for greater complexity. Thus does Poe warn us: do not despise the simple, the superficial, for within it may dwell the very gold of life.

Reflect upon the tale of Diogenes, the ragged philosopher of Greece. Kings and scholars scorned his ways, believing wisdom must wear robes and speak in riddles. Yet Diogenes, seated in his barrel, spoke truths so plain that they cut deeper than the most ornate speeches. When Alexander the Great approached him and asked what gift he desired, Diogenes replied only, “Stand out of my sunlight.” Here was a truth, simple and superficial, shining brighter than all the conquests of empires: that even kings cannot command the sun, and that freedom may dwell in the humblest soul. Rich was that truth, though it required no labyrinth of thought to uncover.

This, then, is the paradox: men often despise the surface and glorify the hidden, believing that greatness must be obscure. Yet the wisdom of the ancients, and the voice of Poe, call us back to the obvious, to the radiant truths that dwell on the lips of children and in the daily lives of the people. That love brings strength, that honesty builds trust, that life is fleeting and death certain—these are truths as superficial as the dawn, yet they are richer than all the hidden doctrines of scholars. For what greater wealth can there be than a truth that all may see, all may grasp, and all may live by?

But beware: the superficial is not the shallow. Poe speaks not of vanity or illusion, but of that which is plain and yet profound. The world confuses complexity with depth, but a thousand tangled thoughts may be worth less than one shining word. A river may be shallow and still nourish a nation; a spark may seem small yet ignite a fire that warms a city. Thus the superficial truth, far from being empty, is often the seed of wisdom, small and simple but capable of sustaining life.

So what lesson, children of the future, must you take? Do not despise simplicity. When you hear a word of wisdom that seems too plain, too obvious, pause and weigh it. Ask: does this truth, though superficial, carry riches for my life? Test it not by its obscurity but by its fruit. Better to live by one plain truth—such as kindness yields peace—than to drown in a sea of intricate but sterile doctrines. Gather from the surface what glitters, for not all that shines is false; often it is the very gold the deep earth has thrust upward for you.

Therefore, act thus: each day, look upon the world with new eyes. Do not seek always the hidden and the obscure, but notice the truths lying open before you—in the smile of a child, in the rhythm of the seasons, in the silence of the night sky. Write them down, speak them aloud, live them. And remember always Poe’s counsel: truth, like ore, is richest where it is most superficial. Dig deep when you must, but do not pass by the treasure that glimmers at your feet. For the wisdom that endures is not always the wisdom concealed, but the wisdom revealed in plain sight.