Resist much, obey little.

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

Literature

Why it matters

The idea in context

From Whitman’s democratic poetry, the line has the force of a civic nerve. It asks citizens not to confuse obedience with virtue, especially when conscience, freedom or human dignity is at stake.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Çok diren, az itaat et.
Walt Whitman, Çimen Yaprakları

Whitman’ın demokratik şiirinden gelen bu söz, yurttaşlık siniri gibi çalışır. Özellikle vicdan, özgürlük ya da insan onuru söz konusuyken itaati erdemle karıştırmamayı ister.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Project Gutenberg, Leaves of Grass.

Background reading: Walt WhitmanAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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