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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 others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations 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 business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let not this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is 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 with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. |
It has been argued where exactly Desiderata came from, but these are a few rumored places ~~found in Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore; Dated 1692.~~ It was written by Max Ehrmann in 1927, and copyrighted in in 1948 by his widow, Betty. Through a lawsuit, it had been labeled Public Domain (anyone can use it) since 1975. ~~Desiderata was printed in the stone wall of the bell tower of St. Paul's church, It was printed in latin and therfore was mostly ignored by the people. Max's contribution was that he was the first person to translate the latin into english and distribute to the congregation there. Max's widow had placed a copyright on the writing to gain a monetary control over its distribution after his death. The lawsuit that was won by the church was to ensure that it remained in the public domain free to all who cared to read it, as it was intended when max first translated.~~ |
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