Three short lines from Walt Whitman argue that real strength and happiness can only come from within. A general who has a good army in himself isn’t depending on troops—he’s carrying his own power. The same goes for joy: if you aren’t happy in your own company, no other person can fix that. The speaker’s voice is direct and unapologetic. When he tells you that you can’t be happy by others any more than you can conceive a child by others, the blunt, physical comparison lands hard. It’s absurd to think someone else could do that intimate, personal work for you; likewise, your emotional life can’t be delegated. The mood isn’t cold, though. It’s bracing and oddly freeing. You’re left with a sense that your well-being is yours to build, and that’s a kind of radical independence.
What General has a Good Army. — Summary
WHAT General has a good army in himself, has a good army; He happy in himself, or she happy in herself, is happy, But I tell you you cannot be happy by others, any more than you can beget or conceive a child by others.