--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I HAVE said somewhere that the three…" description: "\"“I HAVE said somewhere that the three Presidentiads preceding 1861 show’d how the weakness and wickedness of rulers are just as eligible here in Americ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/walt-whitman-265_secession_i-have-said-somewhere-that-the-three-pre_103845.jpg" --- # I HAVE said somewhere that the three Presidentiads… ![“I HAVE said somewhere that the three Presidentiads preceding 1861 show’d how the weakness and wickedness of rulers are just as eligible here in America under republican, as in Europe under dynastic influences. But what can I say of that prompt and splendid wrestling with secession slavery, the…” quote by Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/walt-whitman-265_secession_i-have-said-somewhere-that-the-three-pre_103845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/walt-whitman-265_secession_i-have-said-somewhere-that-the-three-pre_103845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f13/walt-whitman-265_secession_i-have-said-somewhere-that-the-three-pre_103845.jpg) > ““I HAVE said somewhere that the three Presidentiads preceding 1861 show’d how the weakness and wickedness of rulers are just as eligible here in America under republican, as in Europe under dynastic influences. But what can I say of that prompt and splendid wrestling with secession slavery, the arch-enemy personified, the instant he unmistakably show’d his face? The volcanic upheaval of the nation, after that firing on the flag at Charleston, proved for certain something which had been previously in great doubt, and at once substantially settled the question of disunion. In my judgment it will remain as the grandest and most encouraging spectacle yet vouchsafed in any age, old or new, to political progress and democracy. It was not for what came to the surface merely—though that was important—but what it indicated below, which was of eternal importance. Down in the abysms of New World humanity there had form’d and harden’d a primal hard-pan of national Union will, determin’d and in the majority, refusing to be tamper’d with or argued against, confronting all emergencies, and capable at any time of bursting all surface bonds, and breaking out like an earthquake.”” [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 Civil War exposed the deep, resilient will of the American Union, a primal force that could break surface divisions and sustain democracy. **In simple terms:** War revealed a deep, unbreakable national will. Key Takeaway A foundational collective will sustains a nation. Themes history union democracy conflict national identity Mood grandiose determined Type historical analysis political essay When to use this quote - post‑war reconstruction - national unity campaigns - civic education Key Concepts collective resolve underlying social forces Practical Applications - highlight shared values in political discourse - strengthen civic institutions Questions to Reflect On - What modern forces echo that primal union will? - How can societies balance unity with pluralism? A Different Perspective The notion of a singular, primal will oversimplifies diverse perspectives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age-old/) [Secession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secession/) ## Related quotes > [“Down our way we're always had a theory that the Civil War was not brought on by Secession of Slavery or the State's Rights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvin-s-cobb/down-our-way-we-re-always-had-a-theory-that-the-civil-war-was-not/) [Irvin S. Cobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvin-s-cobb/) > [Future years will never know the seething hell and the black infernal background, the countless minor scenes and interiors of the secession war; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/future-years-will-never-know-the-seething-hell-and-the-black-infernal/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [“Unending Love I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times... In life after life, in age after age, forever. My spellbound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/unending-love-i-seem-to-have-loved-you-in-numberless-forms-numberless/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“Palo Mayombe is perhaps best known for its display of human skulls in iron cauldrons and accompanied by necromantic practices that contribute to its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholaj-de-mattos-frisvold/palo-mayombe-is-perhaps-best-known-for-its-display-of-human-skulls-in-2/) Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold > [It is necessary to go back to our age old beliefs to save our ethos which are on the decline due to rapid extinction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/it-is-necessary-to-go-back-to-our-age-old-beliefs-to-save-our-ethos/) Mak\_786 > [{\_ If there are something new, the style I have to say, otherwise else the ocean of knowledge are the same age old \_}](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/if-there-are-something-new-the-style-i-have-to-say-otherwise-else-the/) Mak\_786 > [“Palo Mayombe is perhaps best known for its display of human skulls in iron cauldrons and accompanied by necromantic practices that contribute to its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholaj-de-mattos-frisvold/palo-mayombe-is-perhaps-best-known-for-its-display-of-human-skulls-in/) Nicholaj de Mattos Frisvold > [“The fact is that the modern implementation of the prison planet has far surpassed even Orwell ’s 1984 and the only difference between our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-joseph-watson/the-fact-is-that-the-modern-implementation-of-the-prison-planet-has/) Paul Joseph Watson > [“The age old idea of human dignity comes to apply even to the indigent, even to the slaves, even to immigrants, now recently even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/the-age-old-idea-of-human-dignity-comes-to-apply-even-to-the-indigent/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [It's the age old thing: If you want to get elected, blame immigrants. It worked in the 20th century and it works now, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/it-s-the-age-old-thing-if-you-want-to-get-elected-blame-immigrants-it/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [“I was asked the age old question today: why are you an author? I suppose there are lots of answers to this question that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-due/i-was-asked-the-age-old-question-today-why-are-you-an-author-i/) [Richard Due](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-due/) > [There are three things that grow more precious with age; old wood to burn, old books to read, and old friends to enjoy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/there-are-three-things-that-grow-more-precious-with-age-old-wood-to/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [National Permaculture Day is a chance to share thoughts, visions and lots of common sense ways that we can all make a positive difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/costa-georgiadis/national-permaculture-day-is-a-chance-to-share-thoughts-visions-and/) [Costa Georgiadis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/costa-georgiadis/) > [The age old inadequacy and poisonous shortcoming which is defended by most people, most fiercely is ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/the-age-old-inadequacy-and-poisonous-shortcoming-which-is-defended-by/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“The old age old story of Yin & Yang...Every positive side has a negative side too. Which are you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/the-old-age-old-story-of-yin-yang-every-positive-side-has-a-negative/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) ## 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? Amid the universal clatter, the incessant din…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/silence-what-can-new-york-noisy-roaring-rumbling-tumbling-bustling/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) [Explore all 775 Walt Whitman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) ## More Secession quotes > [“We may be rats in a maze as far as the Obama administration is concerned, but in Texas, we are rats with a firm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-king/we-may-be-rats-in-a-maze-as-far-as-the-obama-administration-is/) [Tom King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-king/) > [Up until the late unpleasantness of the Civil war, then, the right of secession was more or less taken for granted in many quarters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/up-until-the-late-unpleasantness-of-the-civil-war-then-the-right-of/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/my-paramount-object-in-this-struggle-is-to-save-the-union-and-is-not/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If the Union was formed by accession of States then the Union may be dissolved by the secession of States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-webster/if-the-union-was-formed-by-accession-of-states-then-the-union-may-be/) [Daniel Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-webster/) > [If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/if-i-could-save-the-union-without-freeing-any-slave-i-would-do-it/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [No state, upon its own mere motion, can lawfully get out of the Union. Plainly, the central idea of secession, is the essence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/no-state-upon-its-own-mere-motion-can-lawfully-get-out-of-the-union/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/in-giving-freedom-to-the-slave-we-assure-freedom-to-the-free/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [What happened in Pakistan was that people were told: You're all Muslim, so now you're a country. As we saw in 1971 with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/what-happened-in-pakistan-was-that-people-were-told-you-re-all-muslim/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [The idea that 'if you don't like how things are going, you can just leave' is so ingrained in Texas, the secession movement is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/the-idea-that-if-you-don-t-like-how-things-are-going-you-can-just/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [The virtue of small government is that the mistakes are small as well...If you want to leave a nation you think is corrupt, inefficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirkpatrick-sale/the-virtue-of-small-government-is-that-the-mistakes-are-small-as-well/) [Kirkpatrick Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirkpatrick-sale/) > [Some non-communist parties and CPPCC members have, at CPPCC meetings or in their proposals, called for the enactment of a law against secession at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-qinglin/some-non-communist-parties-and-cppcc-members-have-at-cppcc-meetings/) Jia Qinglin > [I can't say with certainty that slavery would have ended more quickly and more completely if the South had been allowed to leave and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-can-t-say-with-certainty-that-slavery-would-have-ended-more-quickly/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [Secession withdraws the State out of the reach of the usurped powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-p-upshur/secession-withdraws-the-state-out-of-the-reach-of-the-usurped-powers/) Abel P. Upshur > [I am not in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-am-not-in-favor-of-making-voters-or-jurors-of-negroes-nor-of/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The secession of the Southern States, individually or in the aggregate, was the certain consequence of Mr. Lincoln's election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/belle-boyd/the-secession-of-the-southern-states-individually-or-in-the-aggregate/) [Belle Boyd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/belle-boyd/) [Browse all 70 Secession quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secession/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I HAVE said somewhere that the three Presidentiads preceding 1861 show’d how the weakness and wickedness of rulers are just as eligible here in America under republican, as in Europe under dynastic influences. 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