The cherished traditions of a people, however extravagant they may appear, are in every instance valuable sources of information. No matter what amount of error may have been heaped upon them in their downward course through ages—no matter what incrustations may have formed around them—still like the statue in the block of marble the original form of truth is there, and requires only the discriminating hands of the historian to reveal.

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The cherished traditions of a people, however extravagant they may appear, are in every instance valuable sources of information. No matter what amount of error may have been heaped upon them in their downward course through ages—no matter what incrustations may have formed around them—still like the statue in the block of marble the original form of truth is there, and requires only the discriminating hands of the historian to reveal." in the context of "(1846), The Poets and Dramatists of Ireland: With an Introduction on the Early Religion and Literature of the Irish People, Volume 1, page: 18, place: Dublin, publisher: James Duffy" to mean that wisdom is timeless.