Cities Quote by Walt Whitman
“TO the States or any one of them, or any city of the States, Resist much, obey little, Once unquestioning obedience, once fully enslaved, Once fully enslaved, no nation, state, city of this earth, ever after-ward resumes its liberty.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: Leaves of Grass, 1855
Obedience leads to loss of liberty; resist to preserve freedom for all nations.
In simple terms: Blind obedience destroys freedom.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate critical thinking and resistance.
Themes
freedom
obedience
resistance
liberty
Mood
defiant
inspirational
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education reform
- activism
- public discourse
Key Concepts
Political philosophy
civil disobedience
Questions to Reflect On
- What does resistance mean to you?
- How can societies balance order and liberty?
A Different Perspective
Resistance can become oppressive if unchecked.
![“Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs [Less Developed Countries]?... I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that... I’ve always…” quote by Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ac4/lawrence-summers-16940_air_just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-wo_4703.jpg)
