Leaves of grass (1872) | ||
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Each man to himself, and each woman to herself, such is the word of the past and present, and the word of immortality;No one can acquire for another—not one!
Not one can grow for another—not one!
22
The song is to the singer, and comes back most to him;The teaching is to the teacher, and comes back most to him;
The murder is to the murderer, and comes back most to him;
The theft is to the thief, and comes back most to him;
The love is to the lover, and comes back most to him;
The gift is to the giver, and comes back most to him—it cannot fail;
The oration is to the orator, the acting is to the actor and actress, not to the audience;
And no man understands any greatness or goodness but his own, or the indication of his own.
Leaves of grass (1872) | ||