Walt Whitman (Writer)

It is a beautiful truth that all men contain something of the artist in them. And perhaps it is the case that the greatest artists live and die, the world and themselves alike ignorant what they possess. Who would not mourn that an ample palace, of surpassingly graceful architecture, fill’d with luxuries, and embellish’d with fine pictures and sculpture, should stand cold and still and vacant, and never be known or enjoy’d by its owner? Would such a fact as this cause your sadness? Then be sad. For there is a palace, to which the courts of the most sumptuous kings are but a frivolous patch, and, though it is always waiting for them, not one of its owners ever enters there with any genuine sense of its grandeur and glory.I think of few heroic actions, which cannot be traced to the artistical impulse. He who does great deeds, does them from his innate sensitiveness to moral beauty.

— Walt Whitman truth

Talk not so much, then, young artist, of the great old masters, who but painted and chisell’d. Study not only their productions. There is a still higher school for him who would kindle his fire with coal from the altar of the loftiest and purest art. It is the school of all grand actions and grand virtues, of heroism, of the death of patriots and martyrs — of all the mighty deeds written in the pages of history — deeds of daring, and enthusiasm, devotion, and fortitude.

— Walt Whitman death

In our sun-down perambulations, of late, through the outer parts of Brooklyn, we have observed several parties of youngsters playing "base", a certain game of ball...Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our close rooms...the game of ball is glorious.

— Walt Whitman art

I have just this moment heard from the front — there is nothing yet of a movement, but each side is continually on the alert, expecting something to happen. O Mother, to think that we are to have here soon what I have seen so many times, the awful loads and trains and boatloads of poor, bloody, and pale and wounded young men again — for that is what we certainly will, and before very long. I see all the little signs, getting ready in the hospitals, etc.; it is dreadful when one thinks about it. I sometimes think over the sights I have myself seen: the arrival of the wounded after a battle, and the scenes on the field, too, and I can hardly believe my own recollections. What an awful thing war is! Mother, it seems not men but a lot of devils and butchers butchering each other.

— Walt Whitman war

We Americans have yet to really learn our own antecedents, and sort them, to unify them. They will be found ampler than has been supposed, and in widely different sources. Thus far, impress'd by New England writers and schoolmasters, we tacitly abandon ourselves to the notion that our United States has been fashion'd from the British Islands only, and essentially form a second England only — which is a very great mistake.

— Walt Whitman writers

I said: "Baseball is the hurrah game of the republic!" He was hilarious: "That's beautiful: the hurrah game! well — it's our game: that's the chief fact in connection with it: America's game: has the snap, go fling, of the American atmosphere — belongs as much to our institutions, fits into them as significantly, as our constitutions, laws: is just as important in the sum total of our historic life."

— Walt Whitman life

If the United States haven't grown poets, on any scale of grandeur, it is certain that they import, print, and read more poetry than any equal number of people elsewhere -- probably more than the rest of the world combined. Poetry (like a grand personality) is a growth of many generations -- many rare combinations. To have great poets, there must be great audiences too.

— Walt Whitman poetry

I will write the evangel-poem of comrades and of love.

— Walt Whitman love

I say the real and permanent grandeur of these States must be their religion.

— Walt Whitman religion

I say the whole earth and all the stars in the sky are for religion’s sake.

— Walt Whitman religion

None has begun to think how divine he himself is and how certain the future is.

— Walt Whitman future

Nothing can happen more beautiful than death.

— Walt Whitman death

I loafe and invite my soul.

— Walt Whitman soul

I have no mockings or arguments; I witness and wait.

— Walt Whitman men

In the faces of men and women I see God.

— Walt Whitman women

I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.

— Walt Whitman world

I see Hermes, unsuspected, dying, well-beloved, saying to the people, "Do not weep for me, This is not my true country, I have lived banished from my true country—I now go back there, I return to the celestial sphere where every one goes in his turn."

— Walt Whitman love

Each of us inevitable; Each of us limitless—each of us with his or her right upon the earth.

— Walt Whitman art

The great city is that which has the greatest man or woman.

— Walt Whitman man

In this broad earth of ours, Amid the measureless grossness and the slag, Enclosed and safe within its central heart, Nestles the seed perfection.

— Walt Whitman art

All, all for immortality, Love like the light silently wrapping all.

— Walt Whitman light

Youth, large, lusty, loving—Youth, full of grace, force, fascination! Do you know that Old Age may come after you, with equal grace, force, fascination?

— Walt Whitman grace

Roaming in thought over the Universe, I saw the little that is Good steadily hastening towards immortality, And the vast that is evil I saw hastening to merge itself and become lost and dead.

— Walt Whitman war

Thunder on! Stride on! Democracy. Strike with vengeful stroke!

— Walt Whitman wit

O Banner! Not houses of peace are you, nor any nor all of their prosperity; if need be you shall have every one of those houses to destroy them; You thought not to destroy those valuable houses, standing fast, full of comfort, built with money; May they stand fast then? Not an hour, unless you, above them and all, stand fast.

— Walt Whitman peace

Over all the sky—the sky! far, far out of reach, studded with the eternal stars.

— Walt Whitman stars

Give me the splendid silent sun, with all his beams full-dazzling!

— Walt Whitman sun

Lo! the moon ascending! Up from the East, the silvery round moon; Beautiful over the house-tops, ghastly, phantom moon; Immense and silent moon.

— Walt Whitman men

Beautiful that war and all its deeds of carnage, must in time be utterly lost; That the hands of the sisters Death and Night incessantly softly wash again and ever again, this soiled world.

— Walt Whitman war

When lilacs last in the door-yard bloomed, And the great star early drooped in the western sky in the night, I mourned, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.

— Walt Whitman ya

Come lovely and soothing death, Undulate round the world, serenely arriving, arriving, In the day, in the night, to all, to each, Sooner or later, delicate death.

— Walt Whitman love

Praised be the fathomless universe For life and joy and for objects and knowledge curious; And for love, sweet love—But praise! O praise and praise For the sure-enwinding arms of cool-enfolding Death.

— Walt Whitman love

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done! The ship has weathered every wrack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting.

— Walt Whitman fear

Liberty is to be subserved, whatever occurs.

— Walt Whitman hate

Peace is always beautiful.

— Walt Whitman beautiful

What do you suppose will satisfy the soul except to walk free and own no superior?

— Walt Whitman soul

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle, Every cubic inch of space is a miracle.

— Walt Whitman light

I was thinking the day most splendid, till I saw what the not-day exhibited; I was thinking this globe enough, till there sprang out so noiseless around me myriads of other globes.

— Walt Whitman thinking

I see that I am to wait for what will be exhibited by death.

— Walt Whitman death

I swear I think there is nothing but immortality!

— Walt Whitman think

The paths to the house I seek to make, But leave to those to come the house itself.

— Walt Whitman self

Society waits unformed and is between things ended and things begun.

— Walt Whitman end

Now obey thy cherished secret wish, Embrace thy friends—leave all in order; To port and hawser's tie no more returning, Depart upon thy endless cruise, old Sailor!

— Walt Whitman art

I announce the great individual, fluid as Nature, chaste, affectionate, compassionate, fully armed; I announce a life that shall be copious, vehement, spiritual, bold, And I announce an end that shall lightly and joyfully meet its translation.

— Walt Whitman life

Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.

— Walt Whitman war

There are days that must happen to you.

— Walt Whitman you

We were together. I forget the rest.

— Walt Whitman

I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.

— Walt Whitman words

The smallest sprout shows there is really no death.

— Walt Whitman death

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