"It is the nature of truth in general, as of some ores in particular, to be richest when most superficial"

This quote by Edgar Allan Poe is a metaphor for how fact can typically be discovered in the most obvious locations. He is recommending that fact is typically found on the surface area, which it is often the most important when it is the most apparent. He is comparing reality to ore, which is an important mineral that is frequently found near the surface of the earth. He is recommending that truth resembles ore because it is frequently found in the most obvious locations and is the most important when it is the most superficial. This quote is a tip that we must not overlook the apparent when looking for truth, as it is often the most important.