If we work upon immortal minds and imbue them with principles, with the just fear of God and the love of our fellow men, we engrave on those tables something that will brighten to all eternity. (Daniel Webster, 19th century American statesman)
Webster began this statement with the following, “If we work on marble, it will perish; if on brass, time will efface it; if we rear up temples, they will crumble into dust…” Then, he stated the quote above. What lasts is not what is sculpted, engraved, or constructed—those things are all temporal. What lasts are the principles which live on in men’s eternal souls.
Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right (Proverbs 16:13). [An overseer] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine (Titus 1:9).