ENGLISH
REFERENCE

contain multitudes

idiom
Meaning

To have a complex and apparently paradoxical nature; to be inconsistent, especially in a way that is ultimately admirable or noble.


Origin

first recorded 19th c.

Coined by the American poet Walt Whitman (1819–1892) in his poem “Song of Myself” published in Leaves of Grass (1855): see the quotation.

Examples
SIMPLE

People are complex and often contain multitudes.

CONTEXTUAL

You might think he is only a quiet accountant, but he contains multitudes, including a secret life as a jazz musician.

COMPLEX

The protagonist is a fascinating character who contains multitudes, shifting between deep cruelty and unexpected acts of kindness throughout the novel.

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