Walt Whitman
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Leaves of Grass

A Walt Whitman Collection

Book II. Starting From Paumanok

Chapter VII

I am the credulous man of qualities, ages, races,
I advance from the people in their own spirit,
Here is what sings unrestricted faith.

Omnes! omnes! let others ignore what they may,
I make the poem of evil also, I commemorate that part also,
I am myself just as much evil as good, and my nation is--and I say
     there is in fact no evil,
(Or if there is I say it is just as important to you, to the land or
     to me, as any thing else.)

I too, following many and follow`d by many, inaugurate a religion, I
     descend into the arena,
(It may be I am destin`d to utter the loudest cries there, the
     winner`s pealing shouts,
Who knows? they may rise from me yet, and soar above every thing.)

Each is not for its own sake,
I say the whole earth and all the stars in the sky are for religion`s sake.

I say no man has ever yet been half devout enough,
None has ever yet adored or worship`d half enough,
None has begun to think how divine he himself is, and how certain
     the future is.

I say that the real and permanent grandeur of these States must be
     their religion,
Otherwise there is just no real and permanent grandeur;
(Nor character nor life worthy the name without religion,
Nor land nor man or woman without religion.)