Posted in Words of Wisdom on May 4, 2022|
Walt Whitman
Walter Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. As a humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. In today’s post, I want to share some words of wisdom from Walt Whitman’s, preface to the Leaves of Grass:
“This is what you shall do; Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, 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 shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body.”
♦ Portions of this post were adapted from goodreads.com and google graphics.
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very much. Though I might not know that person, or even understand their language, my heart is instantly gladdened. On the other hand, if kindness is lacking, even in someone from my own culture whom I have known for many years, I feel it. Kindness and love, a real sense of sisterhood and brotherhood, these are very precious. They make community possible, and therefore are an essential part of any society.”
Perhaps Kurt Vonnegut said it best when he said the following:
The Bookman's Page 
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