Max Ehrmann's "Desiderata"

[justjake]

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.

Far f*cking out man.

[Quaker Dude]

Beautiful thought!

Thanks for sharing, dude!

[meekon5]

I have loved this little piece of writing for so long now (most of my adult life).

My Dad thought it was funny to put it on the back of the toilet door. Particularly the phrase "Go placidly amid the noise and the haste".

An acquired sense of humour my Dad has.



Max Ehrmann

Desiderata

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 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 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. 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 soul.

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

[not_exactly_a_lightweight]

Now those are some good verses.

There used to be a song with the whole poem in it, back when I wore a younger man's clothes. 70's?
very much in line with dudeism.
thanks for the memories.

[Abideist]

Now those are some good verses.

There used to be a song with the whole poem in it, back when I wore a younger man's clothes. 70's?
very much in line with dudeism.
thanks for the memories.

perhaps?
Les Crane - Desiderata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxrsNCLr_xk

[meekon5]

I prefer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQWOyoIMr7Q&feature=related

It may not be the best recording but there is something about Richard Burton reading it that seems just a little purer than all that music twaddle in the background.

IMHO

[not_exactly_a_lightweight]

Now those are some good verses.

There used to be a song with the whole poem in it, back when I wore a younger man's clothes. 70's?
very much in line with dudeism.
thanks for the memories.

perhaps?
Les Crane - Desiderata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxrsNCLr_xk

Yeah thats the one. That song was quite a hit on am radio in the great white north, in the parlance of our times.
...every now and then there is a song that makes you think about life, makes you want to achieve something in life.

Not an epic musical composition, because what's an epic?  This was an am radio song for it's time and place, and since our older siblings were the hippies, the anti-reactionaries -> We were the next subgeneration, with no Woodstock, no Vietnam protests, the folks to rebel against the handiest thing, the bums, the hippies.

And the bums lost. Even though they lost, they always lose, we had _nothing_ to tattoo on our foreheads. So we didn't blame the chinaman, we achieved. And now I am a real reactionary in the parlance of these even newer times. ... and have lost my train of thought here...

[amberdude]

woah meekon5, my dad had that poem on his office door!   I though it was cool and memorized it, haven't thought about it in years, thanks for bring back memories.  I still think this poem has much wisdom in it.  I like the verse: "Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit."

[BikerDude]

GODDAMNIT!  IS THERE A RALPH'S AROUND HERE?!


Calmer than you are.

[Abideist]

Now those are some good verses.

There used to be a song with the whole poem in it, back when I wore a younger man's clothes. 70's?
very much in line with dudeism.
thanks for the memories.

perhaps?
Les Crane - Desiderata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxrsNCLr_xk

Yeah thats the one. That song was quite a hit on am radio in the great white north, in the parlance of our times.
...every now and then there is a song that makes you think about life, makes you want to achieve something in life.

Not an epic musical composition, because what's an epic?  This was an am radio song for it's time and place, and since our older siblings were the hippies, the anti-reactionaries -> We were the next subgeneration, with no Woodstock, no Vietnam protests, the folks to rebel against the handiest thing, the bums, the hippies.

And the bums lost. Even though they lost, they always lose, we had _nothing_ to tattoo on our foreheads. So we didn't blame the chinaman, we achieved. And now I am a real reactionary in the parlance of these even newer times. ... and have lost my train of thought here...

Not sure what you mean. I'm not even in my thirties, and I come from a generation of media raised spoiled brats. The only 'war' i've had is learning to let go of my expectations, phase out of denial, accept my limitations, forgive the retarded fucks that make every day a chore, and pray for a future where I'm not a bum. I don't believe that we achieve. I think were born great, or luck into it. Otherwise it's who you know, and who you blow.

We did have a war, but I didn't get the opportunity to serve. Turns out a drug charge is a big no no to the US military, even though I've never met a soldier that didn't toke up, or drink like a sailor.

I've never met someone who drank, that didn't at least once drive drunk. Yet the people with DUI's are the ones that got caught, and pay for the example to set. The unfortunate sons, who are forsaken so that 'achievers' can feel slightly better about themselves.

A system that throws people without resources into a loop of dissapointment and failure, leaving roads paved for those who squeeze by unscathed by the razor sharp edge of judgement. 

I envy people who are successful, because at least there are some of us living in this world now that can enjoy freedom at it's finest. DO I think they don't have their dirty undies hiding in the closet, no sir, but at least we don't see them. I just wish they would pick the logs out of their own eyes before removing the splinter in mine.

SIGH, who knows what the fuck is what. It's all bullshit. Rub a dub dub...

[WillotheDude]

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Ain't that the truth. Love it! I hadn't read that poem in over five years at least so it was wonderful to revisit it.