containing multitudes
Holding many selves
Containing multitudes describes someone or something that holds contradictory qualities, diverse aspects, or vast complexity.
The phrase comes from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself": "Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes)." It suggests that apparent inconsistencies reflect richness rather than confusion: She's a punk rocker who loves opera—she contains multitudes.
- Song of MyselfExtended lyric celebrating individual identity
- identityWho someone is
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- complexityState of being complicated
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
diversity · polyphony · multiplicity · contradiction · metaphor · wholeness · capaciousness · Leaves of Grass · persona · multidimensionality · fractal · allegory · duality · narrative · introspection · infinity · multiculturalism · symbolism
containing multitudessimple
Free of complexity
one-dimensional · uncomplicated · straightforward · singular · monolithic
containing multitudessingular
One in number
monolithic · uniform · homogeneous · unitary · indivisible
containing multitudesone-note
Limited to sameness
shallow · superficial · flat · two-dimensional · narrow
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