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,
hurry never--
in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconcious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

William Henry Channing

William Henry Channing (1810-1884), was an American Unitarian preacher and writer. He was a Transcendentalist, along with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thoreau, and he was a Christian socialist. Symphony is his most well-known piece of writing.