My Symphony
- William Ellery Channing
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 starts and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart;
To bear all cheerfully, to do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never;
In a work, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the uncommon.
This is to be my symphony.