Walt Whitman

"Did you, too, O friend, suppose democracy was only for elections, for politics, and for a party name? I say democracy is only of use there that it may pass on and come to its flower and fruit in manners, in the highest forms of interaction between people, and their beliefs - in religion, literature, colleges and schools- democracy in all public and private life."

107 likes

Source: Walt Whitman (2009). “Democratic Vistas: The Original Edition in Facsimile”, p.33, University of Iowa Press

About the author

Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman

Poet, Essayist

Walt Whitman was an American poet and essayist, known for his groundbreaking work 'Leaves of Grass,' which celebrated individuality and nature.

All quotes by Walt Whitman →

Same author

More quotes by Walt Whitman

See all →
Walt Whitman Poet, Essayist

"This is what you should do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone 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 ... re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss what insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem."

Read quote