Walt Whitman (1819–1892). Leaves of Grass. 1900.

313. Behavior

BEHAVIOR—fresh, native, copious, each one for himself or herself,

Nature and the Soul expressed—America and freedom expressed—In it the finest art,

In it pride, cleanliness, sympathy, to have their chance,

In it physique, intellect, faith—in it just as much as to manage an army or a city, or to write a book—perhaps more,

The youth, the laboring person, the poor person, rivalling all the rest—perhaps outdoing the rest,

The effects of the universe no greater than its;

For there is nothing in the whole universe that can be more effective than a man’s or woman’s daily behavior can be,

In any position, in any one of These States.