All music is is what awakes from you when you are reminded by the instruments.
Walt WhitmanRead
The shallow, as intimated, consider liberty a release from all law, from every constraint. The wise see in it, on the contrary, the potent Law of Laws.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True liberty involves embracing certain laws and constraints rather than having complete freedom from them.
Walt Whitman's quote suggests that while some may view liberty as a lack of restrictions, true understanding recognizes that genuine freedom is found in the acceptance of certain laws that govern us. The 'wise' perceive that liberty is not merely an escape from law, but rather a profound commitment to principles that protect and enrich life.
Themes
LibertyLawFreedomWisdomConstraints
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on civil rights, one might quote Whitman to emphasize that true freedom includes moral and societal laws.
More from Walt Whitman
All quotes →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.
Walt WhitmanRead
In the confusion we stay with each other, happy to be together, speaking without uttering a single word.
Walt WhitmanRead
A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.
Walt WhitmanRead
Now, dearest comrade, lift me to your face,_x000D_ _x000D_ We must separate awhileHere! take from my lips this kiss._x000D_ _x000D_ Whoever you are, I give it especially to you;_x000D_ _x000D_ So long!And I hope we shall meet again.
Walt WhitmanRead
And whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral drest in his shroud.
Walt WhitmanRead
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However, if the religions in essence merely repeat statements from the United Nations Human Rights Declaration, such a Declaration becomes superfluous; an ethic is more than rights.
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