“Have you learned the lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you? Have you not learned great lessons from those who braced themselves against you, and disputed passage with you?”

American poet, essayist, and journalist, 19th century

Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. He lived in the 19th century and is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in American and world poetry. He wrote two novels as well as poetry and prose, and his work blends transcendentalism with realism. He is often called the father of free verse. Much of the attention around him came from the controversy over Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855, which some readers condemned as obscene for its open sensuality.