Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you. — Walt Whitman | Printable Wall Art

“Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.”

Words by Walt Whitman (1819-1892) — Poet, author of Leaves of Grass.

About this quote

This line offers a simple rule for maintaining a positive mindset. By consciously focusing on light, hope, and optimism, you naturally turn away from doubt and hardship. It acknowledges that dark moments exist, but suggests that where you choose to direct your attention determines whether those difficulties loom over you or quietly recede into the background of your life.

Widely attributed to nineteenth-century American poet Walt Whitman, this line reflects the optimistic spirit found across his work. Though its exact manuscript origins remain debated, the sentiment aligns closely with his celebrated poetic philosophy of hope and resilience.

People often hang this print in a hallway or kitchen to start the day with a thoughtful perspective.

What you get

An instant digital download. Choose your design and size at checkout — 19 typographic designs and 8 print sizes are available for this quote.

• Print-ready PDF with fully embedded vector type — sharp at any scale
• Exact trim size, no cropping required
• Print at home, at a local print shop, or upload to an online printer
• Instant download — no physical item is shipped

Sizes available

5" x 7" · 8" x 10" · 11" x 14" · 12" x 16" · 16" x 20" · 18" x 24" · 24" x 36" · A4 (21 x 29.7 cm)

Designs available

Atelier Serif · Quiet Garamond · Studio Left · Gallery Rule · Midnight Serif · Editorial Left Serif · Modern Sans Calm · Letterpress Caps · Poster Condensed · Script Whisper · Manuscript Italic · Asymmetric Left · Minimal Unsigned · Charcoal Sans · Gallery Frame · Soft Serif Right · Statement Serif · Night Script · Tracked Caps Unsigned

Digital product. Colours may vary slightly between screens and printers. Frames and props are not included.