Light is the symbol of truth.

"Light is the symbol of truth." So declared James Russell Lowell, giving voice to a truth as old as creation itself. From the dawn of time, humankind has lifted its eyes toward the rising sun, and in its brilliance found a mirror of understanding. For light dispels darkness, and in the same way, truth drives away ignorance, fear, and deceit. Just as no shadow can remain when the sun ascends, no lie can endure before the radiance of truth. Thus men and women through the ages have bound together these two—light and truth—as eternal companions.

The ancients themselves bore witness to this symbol. Did not the poets of Greece sing of Apollo, god of the sun and prophecy, who shone with both radiance and wisdom? Did not the Scriptures proclaim, “Let there be light,” as the first act of creation, making illumination the very foundation of existence? Light was never merely physical brightness; it was always a sign of divine revelation, of knowledge breaking through the dark veil of confusion. To say that light is the symbol of truth is to confess that when we walk in truth, we walk as children of the day, no longer stumbling in the blindness of night.

History gives us countless examples of those who carried this light into times of peril. Consider the story of Galileo Galilei, who turned his telescope to the heavens and discovered a universe larger and more wondrous than men had dared to imagine. His discoveries were a beam of truth shining against centuries of error. Yet for this, he was condemned and forced into silence. But though men sought to smother his light, it could not be quenched. Today his truth still shines, a sun that no darkness could extinguish. Thus we see: the light of truth may be resisted, but it cannot be destroyed.

Nor is the symbol bound only to scholars and kings. In every age, ordinary souls have carried small flames of honesty and justice into the dark places of the world. The abolitionists of Lowell’s own century held fast to the conviction that slavery was an abomination. Against the shadows of greed and cruelty, they lifted high the torch of truth, proclaiming the dignity of every human being. Their light burned against the night of oppression, and though the struggle was long, the dawn of freedom broke forth. Here again, light proved itself the eternal companion of truth.

The lesson, then, is clear: we who live today are also called to bear this light. For darkness has not vanished; it changes its form, appearing as corruption, injustice, deceit, and fear. Each time we choose honesty over convenience, courage over cowardice, compassion over indifference, we kindle a flame. And though one small flame may seem weak, together they can blaze like the rising of the sun.

But take heed, O listener: to carry the light of truth is no easy task. It will expose not only the falsehoods of the world but also the shadows within your own soul. You must be willing to look upon them, to cleanse them, to walk humbly. For he who speaks of truth but does not live it is like a lantern without oil—bright for a moment, then extinguished. The true bearer of light must let it shine first in his own heart, and then share it with the world.

In practice, begin with small steps: speak honestly, even when silence would shield you; defend the weak, even when it costs you comfort; seek knowledge, for ignorance is the shadow in which deceit thrives. Let your life be a lamp, so that others may find their path by your example. For when many lamps burn together, the darkness flees, and a new day is born.

So remember always the wisdom of Lowell: light is the symbol of truth. Walk in light, live in truth, and you will become not only a seeker but a bearer of illumination, a soul whose presence drives away shadows and whose legacy is a dawn that never fades.