Walt Whitman
(1819-1892)

American Poet, Naturalist, Humanist

birthdate: May 31
birthplace:
Long Island, New York

QUOTES

What a devil art thou, Poverty! How many desires - how many aspirations after goodness and truth - how many noble thoughts, loving wishes toward our fellows, beautiful imaginings thou hast crushed under thy heel, without remorse or pause!

"Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth."

After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on - have found that none of these finally satisfy, or permanently wear - what remains? Nature remains.

"This is what you should do;
love the Earth and sun and the animals,
despite riches, give alms to everyone that asks,
stand up for the stupid and crazy,
devote your income and labour to others,
hate tyrants, argue not concerning God,
have patience and indulgence towards the people,
take off your hat to nothing known or unknown
or to any many or number of men...
re-examine all you have been told at school
or church or in any book,
dismiss what insults your soul,
and your very flesh shall be a great poem."

Simplicity is the glory of expression

 

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