Arrogant person Quote by Walt Whitman
““I SIT and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and upon all oppression and shame; I hear secret convulsive sobs from young men, at anguish with themselves, remorseful after deeds done; I see, in low life, the mother misused by her children, dying, neglected, gaunt, desperate; I see the wife misused by her husband—I see the treacherous seducer of young women; I mark the ranklings of jealousy and unrequited love, attempted to be hid—I see these sights on the earth; 5 I see the workings of battle, pestilence, tyranny—I see martyrs and prisoners; I observe a famine at sea—I observe the sailors casting lots who shall be kill’d, to preserve the lives of the rest; I observe the slights and degradations cast by arrogant persons upon laborers, the poor, and upon negroes, and the like; All these—All the meanness and agony without end, I sitting, look out upon, See, hear, and am silent.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Leaves of Grass, 1855
The speaker observes widespread suffering, oppression, and injustice, feeling overwhelmed yet silent amidst humanity’s collective pain.
In simple terms: Witnessing suffering across society, the speaker feels powerless.
Key Takeaway
Acknowledge pain; seek compassionate action.
Themes
suffering
oppression
silence
Mood
melancholy
thoughtful
Type
poetic
social commentary
When to use this quote
- journalism
- advocacy
- mental health awareness
- policy reform
Key Concepts
social critique
humanism
existential dread
Questions to Reflect On
- What can break the cycle of silent observation?
- How can we transform empathy into effective change?
A Different Perspective
Silence may perpetuate suffering if not acted upon.
