This is a quote that I read off of one of the blogs my mother reads, called “Like Merchant Ships“, and she got this quote out of a book she got from the library, called “Things I Want My Daughters to Know”, by Alexandra Stoddard. I myself have not read the book, but I thought this quote was amazing, and wanted to share it with my readers.
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
