The point - the power to hurt - of all figures lies in the

Listen, children of the ages, to the words of Abraham Lincoln, who imparted this enduring counsel: “The point – the power to hurt – of all figures lies in the truthfulness of their application.” In this declaration resides the eternal law of precision, integrity, and purpose. A figure, whether a stroke of the pen, a mark upon the battlefield, or the weight of argument, gains its true potency not by mere appearance, but by the honesty and rightness with which it is wielded. Falsehood, though sharp, cuts only itself; truth, though gentle in form, strikes with inevitability.

Lincoln speaks to the moral essence of power. The strength of symbols, numbers, or figures—be they financial, rhetorical, or martial—depends upon their alignment with reality. When wielded with accuracy and truthfulness, they command attention, sway the minds of men, and can pierce the heart with undeniable force. Conversely, misapplied figures, however grand in form, are hollow—they carry no weight, for the spirit discerns deception even where the eye cannot.

Consider the annals of history: the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Lincoln himself, wielded words as figures of justice. Each phrase was carefully measured, each principle aligned with the truth of human dignity. In their application, these words struck the conscience of a nation, shaking foundations and freeing millions. Here lies a living testament: the power to hurt or heal resides in truthful action, not mere display or rhetoric.

Even in the realm of art and oratory, Lincoln’s teaching echoes. The sculptor’s chisel, the painter’s brush, or the orator’s numbers acquire force only when faithful to reality, when the hand is guided by understanding and the heart by sincerity. False grandeur may dazzle, yet only truthful application moves the soul and compels obedience, admiration, or fear. The ancients knew that the essence of mastery lay not in the tools, but in the integrity with which they were applied.

Thus, heed the wisdom of Lincoln: every figure, every word, every gesture gains its full potency when it is honest and rightly placed. To wield power without truth is to grasp a shadow; to apply it with truth is to command the weight of the cosmos itself. Let those who follow carry this lesson in all their endeavors, that their actions may wound only what must be corrected, persuade only what must be enlightened, and uplift only what must be ennobled.

Carry this teaching forward, children of ages yet to come: precision guided by truth is the soul of power. Figures, like arrows, strike only when aimed with wisdom; words, like flames, consume only when fed by justice. In the artful and honest application of all things lies the eternal authority to move, to correct, and to endure.