
D E S I D E R A T A written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann (1872-1945)
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia in the Southern Summer of 1996

D E S I D E R A T A

written in 1927 by

Max Ehrmann (1872-1945)

Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia in the Southern Summer of 1996

D E S I D E R A T A

Go placidly amid the noise and 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 & clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull & ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud & aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain & 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 future of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

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 imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue & loneliness.
Beyond wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees & 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 labours & aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

Concerning the actual source of this document, the following question and response to the sci.classics newsgroup is of note.

Date: Mon, 15 Jan 96 00:00:53 PST
From: misrael@scripps.edu (Mark Israel)
To: prfbrown@magna.com.au
Subject: Re: Desiderata

In article <4d7320$act@kettle.magna.com.au>, you write:

> Attached above is the text known as "desiderata".
> I am quite sure there would have been thread concerning this in the past.
> However I am interested whether anything substantial was determined
> from these earlier discussions - or possibly personal research -
> concerning the actual historical source for this quite inspiring text.

From the alt.usage.english FAQ file:

"Desiderata" was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann (1872-1945). In 1956, the rector of St. Paul's Church in Baltimore, Maryland, used the poem in a collection of mimeographed inspirational material for his congregation. Someone who subsequently printed it asserted that it was found in Old St. Paul's Church, dated 1692. The year 1692 was the founding date of the church and has nothing to do with the poem. See Fred D. Cavinder, "Desiderata", _TWA Ambassador_, Aug. 1973, pp. 14-15.