Monday, November 27, 2006

William Henry Channing quote

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, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never;
To let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

Wonderful  Wish I could do better at living my version of this.

(Quote sent by Sara.)

5 comments:

BerryBird said...

I need especial practice on the "bear all cheerfully" part.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

Me too, I need help with that and a lot of the others too! YIKES! :-D

It's hard to be cheerful and I need to be brave, too!

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

AND I am NOT good at NOT hurrying.

:-(

I feel like I am ALWAYS HURRYING, even when I am trying to rest or read because there is so uch I need, have to and want to do that I can never get caught up!

I remember when you used to REFUSE to hurry and you USUALLY succeeded!

BerryBird said...

HURRYing causes me nothing but stress and woe. As an added bonus, it makes me cranky and forgetful.

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

OH, me too! But I can't seem to stop doing it.

Or FEEL like I'm doing it.