Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature and is often referred to as the father of free verse. His most famous work is the collection of poems entitled Leave of Grass which he revised and expanded throughout his life.
Walt Whitman
I can say with a very open heart that his work in imbued with simplicity, love, kindness, and spirituality, perfectly mixed together and it is with great joy that I give to you some of the many, many lessons you too could learn from him.
Here are
44 Life-Changing Lessons to Learn from the Inspiring Walt Whitman
On Simplicity and Strength
1. “Simplicity is the glory of expression.”~ Walt Whitman
2. “To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.”~ Walt Whitman
3. “Give me the splendid, silent sun with all his beams full-dazzling.”~ Walt Whitman
4. “To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.”
5. “The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.”~ Walt Whitman
6. “Each of us inevitable; Each of us limitless-each of us with his or her right upon the earth.”~ Walt Whitman
7. “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?”~ Walt Whitman
8. “You shall no longer take things at second or third hand, not look through the eyes of the dead, nor feed on the spectres in books. You shall not look through my eyes either, nor take things from me. You shall listen to all sides and filter them from yourself.”
9. “There are days that must happen to you.”
10. “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
11. “I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best.”~ Walt Whitman
12. “Not I nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.”
13. “We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. So medicine, law, business, engineering… these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love… these are what we stay alive for.”~ Walt Whitman
14. “Battles are lost in the same spirit in which they are won.”~ Walt Whitman
15. “There is no God any more divine than yourself.”~ Walt Whitman
16. “I am larger, better than I thought; I did not know I held so much goodness.”
17. “Each of us inevitable; Each of us limitless-each of us with his or her right upon the earth.”~ Walt Whitman
18. “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?”
On Love and Kindness
19. “Sometimes with one I love, I fill myself with rage, for fear I effuse unreturn’d love; But now I think there is no unreturn’d love – the pay is certain, one way or another.”
20. “Whoever you are, now I place my hand upon you. That you may be my poem. I whisper with my lips close to your ear. I have loved many women and men, but I love none better than you.”
21. “Some people are so much sunshine to the square inch.”
22. “All faults may be forgiven of him who has perfect candor.”
23. “I am to wait. I do not doubt I am to meet you again. I am to see to it that I do not lose you.”
24. “Behold I do not give lectures or a little charity. When I give, I give myself.”
25. “Those who love each other shall become invincible.”
26. “I am to wait. I do not doubt I am to meet you again. I am to see to it that I do not lose you.”
27. “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 flesh shall be a great poem.”
28. “I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person.”
On Happiness
29. “I exist as I am, that is enough. If no other in the world be aware I sit content. And if each and all be aware I sit content. One world is aware, and by the far the largest to me, and that is myself. And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years, I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness, I can wait.”
30. “Re-examine all that you have been told… dismiss that which insults your soul.”
31. “Happiness, not in another place but this place… not for another hour, but this hour.”
32. “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.”
33. “Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.”
34. “Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you.”
35. “I celebrate myself, and sing myself. And what I assume you shall assume. For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
36. “In the faces of men and women, I see God.”
37. “Oh, to be alive in such an age, when miracles are everywhere, and every inch of common air throbs a tremendous prophecy, of greater marvels yet to be.”
38. “Oh, to be alive in such an age, when miracles are everywhere, and every inch of common air throbs a tremendous prophecy, of greater marvels yet to be.”
39. “Do anything, but let it produce joy.”
40. “I exist as I am, that is enough. If no other in the world be aware I sit content. And if each and all be aware I sit content. One world is aware, and by the far the largest to me, and that is myself. And whether I come to my own today or in ten thousand or ten million years, I can cheerfully take it now, or with equal cheerfulness, I can wait.”
41. “I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.”
42. “Pointing to another world will never stop vice among us; shedding light over this world can alone help us.”
43. “I am satisfied … I see, dance, laugh, sing.”
44. “It is only the novice in political economy who thinks it is the duty of government to make its citizens happy – government has no such office.”
Bonus:
“Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.”
“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.”
“All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses. And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.”
“This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men.
Go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.”
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