The Letters of Anne Gilchrist and Walt Whitman

by Anne Burrows Gilchrist

Perhaps Walt Whitman has forgotten—or, through some theory in his head, has overridden—the truth that our instincts are beautiful facts of nature, as well as our bodies; and that we have a strong instinct of silence about some things.

“I will listen to any man’s convictions; you may keep your doubts, your negations to yourself, I have plenty of my own.”

there is no door out of the universe.

hear and behold God in every object, yet understand God not in the least.”