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Portrait of Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman

(1819–1892) Editor United States

775 quotes in 2040 categories

Walt Whitman writes that he becomes part of the land he loves, feeling one with nature. He declares that each person is limitless and can rule their own life, not a slave to anything outside. He says wisdom lives in the soul, not in schools or books.

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Walt Whitman was an editor from the United States, best known for Leaves of Grass.

Quick Facts About Walt Whitman

Born: May 31, 1819
Died: March 26, 1892
Nationality: United States
Profession: Editor
Notable works: Leaves of Grass
Known for: Leaves of Grass, O Captain! My Captain!

About Walt Whitman

Whitman is regarded as one of the most influential poets in both American and world literature. His writings blended transcendentalist ideas with realistic detail. In addition to poetry, he wrote two novels. His style broke from traditional forms, helping shape modern poetry.

Awards & Honors

New Jersey Hall of Fame

Quotes by Walt Whitman

I hate commas in the wrong places.

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I and this mystery, here we stand.

Mystery

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I exist as I am, that is enough.

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The art of art... is simplicity.

Art

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When I give, I give myself.

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“Stout as a horse”

Horse

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We convince by our presence.

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The beautiful uncut hair of graves.

Beautiful

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I say you shall yet find the friend you were looking for.

Friend

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And if the body were not the soul, what is the soul?

Body

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

Democracy

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I see behind each mask that wonder a kindred soul.

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Agonies are one of my changes of garments.

Agony

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I am satisfied ... I see, dance, laugh, sing.

Dance

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Now, Voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find."

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I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game.

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“Or may-be one who is puzzled at me. As if I were not puzzled at myself!”

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Do you guess I have some intricate purpose? Well I have, for the Fourth-month showers have, and the mica on the side…

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When the materials are all prepared and ready, the architects shall appear.

Architect

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A writer can do nothing for men more necessary, satisfying, than just simply to reveal to them the infinite possibility of their…

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not one escaped to tell the fall of Alamo, The hundred & fifty are dumb yet at Alamo.

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“Uttering joyous leaves all its life without a friend a lover near, I know very well I could not.”

Friendship

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I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd, I stand and look at them long…

Animal

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“And as to you life, I reckon you are the leavings of many deaths, / No doubt I have died myself ten…

Death

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“I swear I will never mention love or death inside a house, And I swear I never will translate myself at all,…

Death

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The art of art, the glory of expression, is simplicity. Nothing is better than simplicity, and the sunlight of letters is simplicity.…

Art

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The female that loves unrequited sleeps, And the male that loves unrequited sleeps, The head of the money-maker that plotted all day…

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THIS dust was once the Man, / Gentle, plain, just and resolute—under whose cautious hand, / Against the foulest crime in history…

Age

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Press close, bare-bosomed Night! Press close, magnetic, nourishing Night! Night of south winds! Night of the large, few stars! Still, nodding Night!…

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The earth does not argue, Is not pathetic, has no arrangements, Does not scream, haste, persuade, threaten, promise, Makes no discriminations, has…

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“Divine am I inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touched from; The scent of these arm-pits…

Holy

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Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.

American civil war

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If there were nothing else of Abraham Lincoln for history to stamp him with, it is enough to send him with his…

Abraham

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“Though he would sometimes not touch a book for a week, he generally spent part of each day in reading…if he sat…

Books

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“We descend upon you and all things—we arrest you all; We realize the soul only by you, you faithful solids and fluids;…

Soul

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My rule has been, so far as I could have any rule (I could have no cast-iron rule) - my rule has…

Best way

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“from the pulling and hauling stands what I am, Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary, Looks down, is erect, or bends an…

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As for me, I know nothing else but miracles, Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan, Or dart my sight over the…

August

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“A noiseless patient spider, I mark'd where on a little promontory it stood isolated, Mark'd how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,…

Patience

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“But I am not the sea nor the red sun, I am not the wind with girlish laughter, Not the immense wind…

Birds

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Walt Whitman by topic

Poetry (82) Love (76) Inspirational (74) Nature (67) Life (67) Men (46) Time (42) Soul (40) Leaves of grass (40) Death (40) Spirituality (35) Books (34) Earth (33) Song (27) Night (24) Miracle (23) Miracles (22) Beautiful (22) World (21)