Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

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THAT whatever tastes sweet to the most perfect person
—That is finally right.

That the human shape or face is so great, it must never
be made ridiculous;

That for ornaments nothing outré can be allowed,

That anything is most beautiful without ornament;

That exaggerations will be sternly revenged in your
own physiology, and in other persons' physiol-
ogy also;

That clean-shaped children can be jetted and conceiv'd
only where natural forms prevail in public, and
the human face and form are never caricatured;

And that genius need never more be turn'd to ro-
mances.

(For facts properly told, how mean appear all ro-
mances.)

I have said many times that materials and the Soul are
great, and that all depends on physique;

Now I reverse what I said, and suggest that all depends
on the sthetic, or intellectual,

And that criticism is great—and that refinement is
greatest of all;

And that the mind governs—and that all depends on
the mind.

With one man or woman—(no matter which one—I
even pick out the lowest,)

With him or her I now suggest the whole law;

And that every right, in politics or what-not, shall be
eligible to that one man or woman, on the same
terms as any.

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