William Ellery Channing “My Symphony”
To live content with small means — to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich — to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart — to bear all cheerfully — do all bravely, await occasions — never hurry; in a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
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