Leaves of Grass

Explore 15 quotes from Leaves of Grass

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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Topic

Grass Stars Big vs. small

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Song of Myself Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 31.

I celebrate myself, and sing myself.

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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Topic

Loving oneself Self-expression

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Song of Myself Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 1, I. 1.

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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Topic

Contradiction Inconsistency Human nature

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Song of Myself Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 0

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 51.

When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,
When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

Walt Whitman

When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer

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Topic

Spending time in nature The night sky Experiencing things

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1867 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Whitman, Walt. "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." Leaves of Grass. New York: Self-published, 1867, I. 1. Originally published in Drum-Taps. New York: Peter Eckler, 1865, I. 1.

I celebrate myself and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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Topic

Taking it easy Loving oneself

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Song of Myself Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 1, I. 1.

The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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Topic

America

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, preface.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-2 Editions. Library of America, 2011, preface to 1855 edition.

We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger,
We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend,
Pioneers! O pioneers!

Walt Whitman

Pioneers! O Pioneers!

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Topic

Progress

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Pioneers! O Pioneers! Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1867 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Pioneers! O Pioneers!" Leaves of Grass. New York: Self-published, 1867, st. 2. Originally published in Drum-Taps. New York: Peter Eckler, 1865, st. 2.

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.

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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Topic

Battle Failure Winning and losing

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Song of Myself Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 18.

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.

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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Topic

Loving others Serving others Charity

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Leaves of Grass

Statement Type

Orders and commands

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, preface.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-2 Editions. Library of America, 2011, preface to 1855 edition.

If anything is sacred the human body is sacred.

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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Topic

Body as a temple Human body

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

I Sing the Body Electric Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. "I Sing the Body Electric." Leaves of Grass. Self-published, 1855, sect. 8.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "I Sing the Body Electric." Leaves of Grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-92 Editions. Library of America, 2011, sect. 8.

A great city is that which has the greatest men and women,
If it be a few ragged huts it is still the greatest city in the whole world.

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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Topic

Cities

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Song of the Broad-Axe Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1867 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of the Broad-Axe." Leaves of Grass. Boston: J. R. Osgood, 1881-82, sect. 4.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of the Broad-Axe." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 4.

I think I could turn and live ahile with te animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd,
I stand and look at them sometimes half the day long.

They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied...not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or industrious over the whole earth.

Walt Whitman

Song of Myself

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Topic

Man and animals Animals The human condition

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Song of Myself Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, poem 1.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002, sect. 32.

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

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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Topic

Miracles

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Miracles Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1867 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Miracles." Leaves of Grass. Boston: J. R. Osgood, 1881-82.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Miracles." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002.

O to be self-balanced for contingencies,
To confront night, storms, hunger, ridicule, accidents, rebuffs, as the trees and animals do.

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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Topic

Balance Being prepared

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Me Imperturbe Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Language

English

Time

1867 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Me Imperturbe." Leaves of Grass. Boston: J. R. Osgood, 1881-82.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. "Me Imperturbe." Leaves of Grass and Other Writings. W. W. Norton & Company, 2002.

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

Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass

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Topic

Simplicity

Author

Walt Whitman

Source

Leaves of Grass

Medium

Poem

Statement Type

Writing advice

Language

English

Time

1855 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York: Self-published, 1855, preface.

Current Citation

Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass: The Complete 1855 and 1891-2 Editions. Library of America, 2011, preface to 1855 edition.