Walt Whitman

resist much obey little

“Resist much, obey little.”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

contradict large multitude

“Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself; I am large -- I contain multitudes.”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

soul satisfy truth

“Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

happiness place hour

“Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour.”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

bad worst good best

“I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best. ”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

scientific spirit

“I like the scientific spirit—the holding off, the being sure but not too sure, the willingness to surrender ideas when the evidence is against them: this is ultimately fine—it always keeps the way beyond open—always gives life, thought, affection, the whole man, a chance to try over again after a mistake—after a wrong guess.”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

exist am enough

“I exist as I am, that is enough.”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

love earth sun animals alm stipid crazy flesh poem

“Love the earth and sun and animals,

Despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks,

Stand up for the stupid and crazy,

Devote your income and labor to others...

And your very flesh shall be a great poem.”

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

real war books

"The real war will never get in the books."

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

miracles manhattan water woods sundown moon

"As for me, I know nothing else but miracles,

Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,

Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,

Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,

Or stand under the trees in the woods,

Or talk by day with any one I love,

Or sleep in bed at night with any one I love,

Or watch honey bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon...

Or the wonderfulness of the sundown,

Or of stars shining so quiet and bright,

Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring...

What stranger miracles are there?"

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

truth simple complicated everyone understand

"The truth is simple. If it was complicated, everyone would understand it."

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

simplicity glory expression

"Simplicity is the glory of expression."

― Walt Whitman (1819-1892)