--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I…" description: "\"Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I can bear it.\" — Walt Whitman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/walt-whitman-265_bear_do-i-contradict-myself-very-well-then-i_608295.png" --- # Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I can bear it. ![“Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I can bear it.” quote by Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/walt-whitman-265_bear_do-i-contradict-myself-very-well-then-i_608295.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/walt-whitman-265_bear_do-i-contradict-myself-very-well-then-i_608295.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/340/walt-whitman-265_bear_do-i-contradict-myself-very-well-then-i_608295.png) > “Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I can bear it.” [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker accepts personal contradictions as part of human complexity. **In simple terms:** Embrace contradictions. Key Takeaway Accept yourself fully. Themes self‑acceptance identity paradox Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - creative writing - conflict resolution Key Concepts existentialism self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile opposing thoughts? - What value lies in embracing inconsistency? A Different Perspective Contradictions can cause inner tension if unexamined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bear/) [Bears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bears/) [Contradict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradict/) [Contradict Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradict-bear-4945414/) [Contradicting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradicting/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Leaves of grass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaves-of-grass/) [Math](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/math/) [Mathematical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mathematical/) [Multitudes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/multitudes/) [Self -awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-awareness/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong/) ## Related quotes > [Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/do-i-contradict-myself-very-well-then-i-contradict-myself-i-am-large/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“What again could this astonishing thing be like which people were so anxious to contradict, that in doing so they did not mind contradicting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/what-again-could-this-astonishing-thing-be-like-which-people-were-so/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [I know I am deathless We have thus far exhausted trillions of winters and summers, There are trillions ahead, and trillions ahead of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-know-i-am-deathless-we-have-thus-far-exhausted-trillions-of-winters-2/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I say the whole earth and all the stars in the sky are for religion's sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-say-the-whole-earth-and-all-the-stars-in-the-sky-are-for-religion-s/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [this is thy hour o soul, thy free flight into the wordless, away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson done,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/this-is-thy-hour-o-soul-thy-free-flight-into-the-wordless-away-from/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Walt Whitman, a kosmos, of Manhattan the son, Turbulent, fleshy, sensual, eating, drinking and breeding, No sentimentalist, no stander above men and women or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/walt-whitman-a-kosmos-of-manhattan-the-son-turbulent-fleshy-sensual/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [O amazement of things-even the least particle!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/o-amazement-of-things-even-the-least-particle/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Something there is more immortal even than the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/something-there-is-more-immortal-even-than-the-stars/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [And a mouse is miracle enough to stagger sextillions of infidels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/and-a-mouse-is-miracle-enough-to-stagger-sextillions-of-infidels/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [All truths wait in all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/all-truths-wait-in-all-things/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [The smallest sprout shows there is really no death. And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/the-smallest-sprout-shows-there-is-really-no-death-and-if-ever-there/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/re-examine-all-you-have-been-told-at-school-or-church-or-in-any-book/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I think I could turn and live with the animals, they are so placid and self contained; I stand and look at them long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-think-i-could-turn-and-live-with-the-animals-they-are-so-placid-and/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [There will never be any more perfection than there is now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/there-will-never-be-any-more-perfection-than-there-is-now/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## More by Walt Whitman > [O lands! O all so dear to me - what you are, I become part of that, whatever it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/o-lands-o-all-so-dear-to-me-what-you-are-i-become-part-of-that/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“Each of us inevitable, Each of us limitless—each of us with his or her right upon the earth, Each of us allow'd the eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/each-of-us-inevitable-each-of-us-limitless-each-of-us-with-his-or-her/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I have sometimes thought that the laws ought not to punish those actions of evil which are committed when the senses are steeped in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-have-sometimes-thought-that-the-laws-ought-not-to-punish-those/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/oh-while-i-live-to-be-the-ruler-of-life-not-a-slave-to-meet-life-as-a/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“it makes such difference where you read”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/it-makes-such-difference-where-you-read/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Wisdom is not finally tested in the schools, Wisdom cannot be pass'd from one having it to another not having it, Wisdom is of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/wisdom-is-not-finally-tested-in-the-schools-wisdom-cannot-be-pass-d/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Strange, (is it not?) that battles, martyrs, blood, even assassination should so condense - perhaps only really lastingly condense - a Nationality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/strange-is-it-not-that-battles-martyrs-blood-even-assassination/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I think I could always live with animals. The more you're around people, the more you love animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-think-i-could-always-live-with-animals-the-more-you-re-around/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul, The pleasures of heaven are with me and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/i-am-the-poet-of-the-body-and-i-am-the-poet-of-the-soul-the-pleasures/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [So here I sit in the early candle-light of old age-I and my book-casting backward glances over out travel'd road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/so-here-i-sit-in-the-early-candle-light-of-old-age-i-and-my-book/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss what insults your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/re-examine-all-you-have-been-told-dismiss-what-insults-your-soul/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [This is what you shall do: love the earth and sun, and animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/this-is-what-you-shall-do-love-the-earth-and-sun-and-animals-despise/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Each of us inevitable; Each of us limitless-each of us with his or her right upon the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/each-of-us-inevitable-each-of-us-limitless-each-of-us-with-his-or-her-2/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Silence? What can New York-noisy, roaring, rumbling, tumbling, bustling, story, turbulent New York-have to do with silence? 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