The great city is that which has the greatest man or woman: if it be a few ragged huts, it is still the greatest city in the whole world.
I refuse putting from me the best that I am.
Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of all poems.
To drive free, to love free, to court destruction with taunts, to feed the remainder of life with one hour of fullness and freedom – one brief hour of madness and joy.
Charity and personal force are the only investments worth anything.
The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible at first; Be not discouraged – keep on – there are divine things, well envelop’d; I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell.
I tramp a perpetual journey.
Touch me, touch the palm of your hand to my body as I pass, Be not afraid of my body.
I am an acme of things accomplished, and I am an encloser of things to be.
As soon as histories are properly told there is no more need of romances.
I am larger, better than I thought; I did not know I held so much goodness.
I hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least.
If you want me again look for me under your boot soles.
I like the scientific spirit-the holding off, the being sure but not too sure, the willingness to surrender ideas when the evidence is against them: this is ultimately fine-it always keeps the way beyond open.
Oh while I live, to be the ruler of life, not a slave, to meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.
Nothing can happen more beautiful than death.
Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear.
I have learned that to be with those I like is enough.
The beauty of independence, departure, actions that rely on themselves.