The liberal holds that he is true to the republic when he is true to himself. (It may not be as cozy an attitude as it sounds.) He greets with enthusiasm the fact of the journey, as a dog greets a man's invitation to take a walk. And he acts in the dog's way too, swinging wide, racing ahead, doubling back, covering many miles of territory that the man never traverses, all in the spirit of inquiry and the zest for truth. He leaves a crazy trail, but he ranges far beyond the genteel old party he walks with and he is usually in a better position to discover a skunk.

Summary

The quote suggests that a liberal person believes in staying true to their own principles and values, considering it a commitment to their country. They actively embrace the journey of exploration and inquiry, similar to a dog eagerly joining a walk with its owner. They move freely, both ahead and backward, exploring unconventional paths and vistas while maintaining a thirst for truth and knowledge. They may seem erratic or unconventional in their approach, but they often discover hidden truths or flaws in the established norms that others fail to acknowledge.

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