Does truth win out?

Words from almost 500 years ago sound like they were written for today:

Well knows he who [takes time] to consider, that our faith and knowledge thrives by exercise, as well as our limbs and complexion.

Where there is much desire to learn, here of necessity will be much arguing, much writing, many opinions; for opinion in good men is but knowledge in the making.

Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.

And though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, [if] Truth be in the field, we do [injury] to misdoubt her strength.

Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew truth [to lose] in a free and open encounter?

Believe it or not, these are the exact words of John Milton, excerpted from a (very long) address in 1644 to the Parliament of England. (1644! Can you believe that?)