To live content with small means. <br />To seek elegance rather than luxury, <br />and refinement rather than fashion. <br />To be worthy not respectable, <br />and wealthy not rich. <br />To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, <br />act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, <br />and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully, <br />do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. <br />In a word, to let the spiritual, <br />unbidden and unconscious, <br />grow up through the common. <br />This is to be my symphony.<br /><br />William Ellery Channing<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/my-symphony-2/
