I say that democracy can never prove itself beyond cavil, until it founds and luxuriantly grows its own forms of art, poems, schools, theology, displacing all that exists, or that has been produced anywhere in the past, under opposite influences.
Meaning of the quote
Democracy needs to create its own unique art, poetry, schools, and beliefs in order to truly prove itself and be accepted by everyone. It shouldn't just copy what has been done before under different political systems. Instead, democracy should develop its own distinct and thriving forms of expression and learning, replacing the old ways that were shaped by opposing ideologies.
About Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman was an influential American poet known for his groundbreaking free verse and unconventional approach to poetry. His seminal work, ‘Leaves of Grass,’ was considered controversial at the time for its overt sensuality, but it has since cemented Whitman’s legacy as a pioneering figure in American literature.
More quotes from Walt Whitman
Judging from the main portions of the history of the world, so far, justice is always in jeopardy.
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Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.
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There is no object so soft but it makes a hub for the wheeled universe.
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In the confusion we stay with each other, happy to be together, speaking without uttering a single word.
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The real war will never get in the books.
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There is that indescribable freshness and unconsciousness about an illiterate person that humbles and mocks the power of the noblest expressive genius.
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The whole theory of the universe is directed unerringly to one single individual.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I heard what was said of the universe, heard it and heard it of several thousand years; it is middling well as far as it goes – but is that all?
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A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.
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Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.
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The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.
American poet, essayist and journalist
And I will show that nothing can happen more beautiful than death.
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There is no week nor day nor hour when tyranny may not enter upon this country, if the people lose their roughness and spirit of defiance.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Whoever degrades another degrades me, And whatever is done or said returns at last to me.
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I celebrate myself, and sing myself.
American poet, essayist and journalist
To have great poets, there must be great audiences.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Re-examine all that you have been told… dismiss that which insults your soul.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Produce great men, the rest follows.
American poet, essayist and journalist
O public road, I say back I am not afraid to leave you, yet I love you, you express me better than I can express myself.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I cannot be awake for nothing looks to me as it did before, Or else I am awake for the first time, and all before has been a mean sleep.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I see great things in baseball. It’s our game – the American game.
American poet, essayist and journalist
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.
American poet, essayist and journalist
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.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The beauty of independence, departure, actions that rely on themselves.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Freedom – to walk free and own no superior.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Other lands have their vitality in a few, a class, but we have it in the bulk of our people.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it.
American poet, essayist and journalist
We convince by our presence.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I accept reality and dare not question it.
American poet, essayist and journalist
When I give, I give myself.
American poet, essayist and journalist
All faults may be forgiven of him who has perfect candor.
American poet, essayist and journalist
To the real artist in humanity, what are called bad manners are often the most picturesque and significant of all.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I may be as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.
American poet, essayist and journalist
If you done it, it ain’t bragging.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Nothing endures but personal qualities.
American poet, essayist and journalist
A great city is that which has the greatest men and women.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Viewed freely, the English language is the accretion and growth of every dialect, race, and range of time, and is both the free and compacted composition of all.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.
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If any thing is sacred, the human body is sacred.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I say to mankind, Be not curious about God. For I, who am curious about each, am not curious about God – I hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I find no sweeter fat than sticks to my own bones.
American poet, essayist and journalist
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.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Behold I do not give lectures or a little charity, When I give I give myself.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The beautiful uncut hair of graves.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Henceforth I ask not good fortune. I myself am good fortune.
American poet, essayist and journalist
To die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The shallow consider liberty a release from all law, from every constraint. The wise man sees in it, on the contrary, the potent Law of Laws.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The words of my book nothing, the drift of it everything.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?
American poet, essayist and journalist
Have you heard that it was good to gain the day? I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Simplicity is the glory of expression.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Speech is the twin of my vision, it is unequal to measure itself, it provokes me forever, it says sarcastically, Walt you contain enough, why don’t you let it out then?
American poet, essayist and journalist
He most honors my style who learns under it to destroy the teacher.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Nothing can happen more beautiful than death.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Let that which stood in front go behind, let that which was behind advance to the front, let bigots, fools, unclean persons, offer new propositions, let the old propositions be postponed.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I say that democracy can never prove itself beyond cavil, until it founds and luxuriantly grows its own forms of art, poems, schools, theology, displacing all that exists, or that has been produced anywhere in the past, under opposite influences.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I exist as I am, that is enough.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?
American poet, essayist and journalist
And whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral drest in his shroud.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Why are there trees I never walk under but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me?
American poet, essayist and journalist
And there is no trade or employment but the young man following it may become a hero.
American poet, essayist and journalist
The future is no more uncertain than the present.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I am for those who believe in loose delights, I share the midnight orgies of young men, I dance with the dancers and drink with the drinkers.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Here or henceforward it is all the same to me, I accept Time absolutely.
American poet, essayist and journalist
And your very flesh shall be a great poem.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don’t believe I deserved my friends.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Be curious, not judgmental.
American poet, essayist and journalist
To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Seeing, hearing, feeling, are miracles, and each part and tag of me is a miracle.
American poet, essayist and journalist
I have learned that to be with those I like is enough.
American poet, essayist and journalist
Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth.
American poet, essayist and journalist