Behinds Quote by James Russell Lowell
“Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne,- Yet that scaffold sways the Future, and, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above his own.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The Scaffold” (excerpt), 1845
The lines contrast the permanence of truth with the fleeting nature of power, suggesting that divine oversight watches over human affairs.
In simple terms: Truth endures, power is temporary.
Key Takeaway
Seek truth over fleeting authority.
Themes
truth
power
divine oversight
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political critique
- ethical decision‑making
- personal integrity
Key Concepts
philosophical
spiritual
literary
Questions to Reflect On
- What does it mean to trust in a higher moral order?
- How can we balance authority with truth?
A Different Perspective
It may imply a deterministic view that limits human agency.
![“[B]ut in literature, it should be remembered, a thing always becomes his at last who says it best, and thus makes it his own.” quote by James Russell Lowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4fa/james-russell-lowell-561_books_b-ut-in-literature-it-should-be-remember_55085.jpg)
