1
I SAY whatever tastes sweet to the most perfect person, that is finally right. | |
2
I say nourish a great intellect, a great brain; | |
| If I have said anything to the contrary, I hereby retract it. | |
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3
I say man shall not hold property in man; | |
| I say the least developed person on earth is just as important and sacred to himself or herself, as the most developed person is to himself or herself. | 5 |
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4
I say where liberty draws not the blood out of slavery, there slavery draws the blood out of liberty, | |
| I say the word of the good old cause in These States, and resound it hence over the world. | |
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5
I say the human shape or face is so great, it must never be made ridiculous; | |
| I say for ornaments nothing outre can be allowed, | |
| And that anything is most beautiful without ornament, | 10 |
| And that exaggerations will be sternly revenged in your own physiology, and in other persons’ physiology also; | |
| And I say that clean-shaped children can be jetted and conceived only where natural forms prevail in public, and the human face and form are never caricatured; | |
| And I say that genius need never more be turned to romances, | |
| (For facts properly told, how mean appear all romances.) | |
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6
I say the word of lands fearing nothing—I will have no other land; | 15 |
| I say discuss all and expose all—I am for every topic openly; | |
| I say there can be no salvation for These States without innovators—without free tongues, and ears willing to hear the tongues; | |
| And I announce as a glory of These States, that they respectfully listen to propositions, reforms, fresh views and doctrines, from successions of men and women, | |
| Each age with its own growth. | |
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7
I have said many times that materials and the Soul are great, and that all depends on physique; | 20 |
| Now I reverse what I said, and affirm that all depends on the æsthetic or intellectual, | |
| And that criticism is great—and that refinement is greatest of all; | |
| And I affirm now that the mind governs—and that all depends on the mind. | |
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8
With one man or woman—(no matter which one—I even pick out the lowest,) | |
| With him or her I now illustrate the whole law; | 25 |
| I say that every right, in politics or what-not, shall be eligible to that one man or woman, on the same terms as any. | |
