"I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you."

"We will not have great individuals or great leaders, but a great average bulk, unprecedentedly great."

"I am not afraid of death, for I am a part of the earth, and I shall return to the earth."

"I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd, I stand and look at them long and long."

"The older I grow the more I am confirmed in my optimism, my democracy—not of course denying or excusing what is bad—but it is good, not bad, that is common. Beneath all the froth, illiteracy, worse, t…"