Today we bring you a selection of phrases by Walt Whitman (1819-1892).

This American poet, essayist, journalist and humanist was a great symbol of philosophical realism. He is considered one of the most influential authors in contemporary literature.

Walt Whitman’s absolutely unmissable phrases

Let’s hope these lines from Walt Whitman make you think as much as we do. Without further ado, we begin.

1. I swear to you, there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.

I swear, there are divine things more beautiful than words can say.

2. We were together. I forgot the rest.

We were together. I forgot the rest.

3. I exist as I am. That is enough.

I exist as I am. That’s enough.

4. Keep your face always toward the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you.

Always keep your face towards the sunlight and shadows will fall behind you.

5. If you want to know where your heart is, look to where your mind goes when it wanders.

If you want to know where your heart is, look where your mind goes when you walk.

6. Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?

Do you want to come and travel with me? Are we going to beat each other for the time we live?

7. Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes.

Let your soul be fresh and composed before a million universes .

8. When I give, I give myself.

When I give, I give to myself.

9. Whatever satisfies the soul is truth.

What satisfies the soul is true.

10. Peace is always beautiful.

Peace is always beautiful.

11. Now, voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find.

Now, traveler, sail to another, to seek and find.

12.Resist much, obey little.

He resists much, obeys little.

13. I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars.

I think a blade of grass is no less than a journey – work of the stars.

14. The secret of it all is to write… without waiting for a fit time or place.

The secret of all this is to write… without having to wait for a while in form or place.

15. To begin, begin.

To begin with, it begins.

16. If you done it, it ain’t bragging

An amusing reflection on the reasons for pride.

17. Freedom: to walk free and own no superior

A curious definition of the concept of freedom.

18. I accept reality and dare not to question it

Philosophical sentence about what freedom is.

19. To have great poets, there mustbe great audiences

Many times we forget the social context in which artists appear.

20. Produce great men, the rest follows

A recipe for building better societies.

21.Do anything, but let it produce joy

What matters is that what we do produces happiness.

22. In the faces of men and women, I see God

Whitman saw traces of the divine in humanity.

23. The real war will never get in the books

Major battles are underground.

24. The future is no more uncertain than the present

The present is full of surprises.

25. If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred

A phrase that explains itself in relation to other Whitman’s reflections on the divine.

26. The dirtiest book of all is the expurgated book

A reflection on the breakthrough books.

27. I believe that much unseen is also here

A phrase about the metaphysical.

28. I am not contain’d between my hat and my boots

Another reflection on the material and to what extent we are just our body.

29. Simplicity is the glory of expression

Interesting aphorism about simplicity.

30.I celebrate myself, and sing myself

A phrase from Walt Whitman full of vitalism.

I hope you liked these phrases of Walt Whitman! Thank you for your visit and to continue enjoying the best literature.