Leaves of Grass (1860)/Tests

by Walt Whitman

Layout 2

TESTS.

All submit to them, where they sit, inner, secure,
unapproachable to analysis, in the Soul;
Not traditions—not the outer authorities are the
judges— hey are the judges of outer authorities,
and of all traditions,
They corroborate as they go, only whatever corroborates
themselves, and touches themselves,
For all that, they have it forever in themselves to corroborate
far and near, without one exception.