Quote by Daniel Webster
When the mariner has been tossed for many days in thick weather, and on an unknown sea, he naturally avails himself of the first pause in the storm, the earliest glance of the sun, to take his latitude, and ascertain how far the elements have driven him from his true course. Let us imitate this prudence, and, before we float farther on the waves of this debate, refer to the point from which we departed, that we may at least be able to conjecture where we now are.
Summary
This quote emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and evaluation of one's progress. Just as a mariner in a storm pauses to assess their location and determine how far off course they have been pushed, the quote encourages us to metaphorically do the same in debates or discussions. By referring back to our initial point of departure, we can gain a sense of clarity and understanding about our current position. It urges us to take a moment to reflect on our starting point and use that as a reference to assess our present circumstances and make informed judgments.