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;
in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

~ William Henry Channing ~

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