Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was the poet of "Democracy," born in Long Island, U.S., of parents of mingled English and Dutch blood. He was a large-minded, warm-hearted man, who led a restless life, and had more in him than he had training to unfold either in speech or act. A man eager, had he known how, to do service in the cause of his much-loved mankind. He wrote "Leaves of Grass," "Drum-Taps," and "Two Rivulets".

Wisdom & Quotes

• I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contained,

I stand and look at them long and long.
- Song of Myself

• I celebrate myself, and sing myself.

- Song of Myself

• Do I contradict myself?

Very well then contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)
- Song of Myself in Leaves of Grass

• If anything is sacred the human body is sacred.

- I Sing the Body Electric

• O amazement of things - even the least particle!

- Song at Sunset

• O Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done,

The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won.
- O Captain! My Captain!

• To have great poets, there must be great audiences, too.

- Ventures on an Old Theme in Notes Left Over

• The art of art, the glory of expression, and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.

- Leaves of Grass, preface

Charles Kingsley