Do anything, but let it produce joy. Walt Whitman More Quotes by Walt Whitman More Quotes From Walt Whitman O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life? Walt Whitman leaves-of-grass dead-poets-society cities The greatest country, the richest country, is not that which has the most capitalists, monopolists, immense grabbings, vast fortunes, with its sad, sad soil of extreme, degrading, damning poverty, but the land in which there are the most homesteads, freeholds - where wealth does not show such contrasts high and low, where all men have enough - a modest living- and no man is made possessor beyond the sane and beautiful necessities. Walt Whitman beautiful men country Oh captain my captain Walt Whitman captains O the joy of the strong-brawn'd fighter, towering in the arena in perfect condition, conscious of power, thirsting to meet his opponent. Walt Whitman army strong power O to be self-balanced for contingencies, to confront night, storms, hunger, ridicule, accidents, rebuffs, as the trees and animals do. Walt Whitman self animal night The great city is that which has the greatest man or woman: if it be a few ragged huts, it is still the greatest city in the whole world. Walt Whitman leaves-of-grass cities men The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it. Walt Whitman leaves-of-grass poet country The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people. Walt Whitman college america people Americans should know the universe itself as a road, as many roads, as roads for traveling souls. Walt Whitman soul should knows I am large, I contain multitudes Walt Whitman stewardship multitudes I accept reality and dare not question it. Walt Whitman dare accepting reality 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. Walt Whitman science way ideas Walt Whitman, a kosmos, of Manhattan the son, Turbulent, fleshy, sensual, eating, drinking and breeding, No sentimentalist, no stander above men and women or apart from them, No more modest than immodest. Walt Whitman drinking men son Touch me, touch the palm of your hand to my body as I pass, Be not afraid of my body. Walt Whitman not-afraid body hands As soon as histories are properly told there is no more need of romances. Walt Whitman romance history needs The eager and often inconsiderate appeals of reformers and revolutionists are indispensable to counterbalance the inertia and fossilism marking so large a part of human institutions. Walt Whitman institutions conformity individuality A man is a great thing upon the earth and through eternity; but every jot of the greatness of man is unfolded out of woman. Walt Whitman greatness earth men Long have you timidly waded Holding a plank by the shore, Now I will you to be a bold swimmer, To jump off in the midst of the sea, Rise again, nod to me, shout, And laughingly dash with your hair. Walt Whitman sea hair long I think I will do nothing for a long time but listen, And accrue what I hear into myself...and let sound contribute toward me. Walt Whitman sound long thinking Failing to fetch me at first, keep encouraged. Missing me one place, search another. I stop somewhere waiting for you. Walt Whitman missing waiting grieving
