The Desiderata, Max Ehrmann, and Old St. Paul's Church

The Desiderata is an essay on life written by Max Ehrmann.
There has been much confusion about the authorship, but Max
did write it back in the 1920s. There is no connection with
Old Saint Paul's Church, except that a priest found a copy of
the Desiderata mixed in with church papers and assumed that
it belonged to the church. It doesn't.



THE DESIDERATA
by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly
and listen to the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your busines affairs,
for the world if sull of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life if full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your sould.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiul world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Alice Potter on life and the world

I am optimistic and confident in all that I do. I affirm only the best for myself and others. I am the creator of my life and my world. I meet daily challenges gracefully and with complete confidence. I fill my mind with positive, nurturing, and healing thoughts.

Alice Potter

Jose Ingenieros on respect, the past, the present, and the future

Respect the past in the full measure of its deserts, but do not make the mistake of confusing it with the present, nor seek in it the ideals of the future.

Jose Ingenieros

Stephen Shastay on listening and reason

I will not listen to reason unless I am quoted correctly.

Stephen Shastay

....

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Grandma Moses on life and work

I look back on my life like a good day's work. It is done, and I am satisfied with it.

Grandma Moses

H.L. Mencken on success, god, and the devil

The theory seems to be that as long as a man is a failure he is one of God's children, but that as soon as he succeeds he is taken over by the devil.

H.L. Mencken

...

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Tom Lehrer on life and Mozart

It is sobering to consider that, when Mozart was my age, he had already been dead for a year.

Tom Lehrer