Written by Max Ehrmann around 1927

TheThe

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,Go placidly amid the noise and haste,and remember what peace there may be and remember what peace there may be

in silence.in silence.As far as possible without surrenderAs far as possible without surrenderbe on good terms with all persons.be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;Speak your truth quietly and clearly;and listen to others,and listen to others,

even the dull and the ignorant;even the dull and the ignorant;they too have their story. they too have their story.

Avoid loud and Avoid loud and aggressive persons,aggressive persons,they are vexations to they are vexations to

the spirit.the spirit.If you compare If you compare

yourself with others,yourself with others,you may become you may become vain and bitter;vain and bitter;

for always there will for always there will be greater and lesser be greater and lesser

persons than persons than yourself.yourself.

Enjoy your Enjoy your achievements as well achievements as well

as your plans.as your plans.

Keep interested in Keep interested in your own career, your own career, however humble;however humble;

it is a real possession it is a real possession in the changing in the changing

fortunes of time.fortunes of time.Exercise caution in Exercise caution in

your business affairs;your business affairs;for the world is full of for the world is full of

trickery.trickery.But let this not blind But let this not blind you to what virtue you to what virtue

there is;there is;many persons strive many persons strive

for high ideals;for high ideals;and everywhere life is and everywhere life is

full of heroism. full of heroism.

Be yourself.Be yourself.Especially, do Especially, do

not feign not feign affection.affection.Neither be Neither be

cynical about cynical about love;love;

for in the face for in the face of all aridity and of all aridity and disenchantmentdisenchantment

it is as it is as perennial as the perennial as the

grass.grass.

Take kindly the Take kindly the counsel of the years,counsel of the years,

gracefully gracefully surrendering the surrendering the things of youth.things of youth.

Nurture strength of Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.sudden misfortune.But do not distress But do not distress yourself with dark yourself with dark

imaginings.imaginings.Many fears are born Many fears are born

of fatigue and of fatigue and loneliness.loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome Beyond a wholesome discipline,discipline,

be gentle with be gentle with yourself. yourself.

You are a child of the universe,You are a child of the universe,no less than the trees and the no less than the trees and the

stars;stars;you have a right to be here.you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to And whether or not it is clear to you,you,

no doubt the universe is no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace Therefore be at peace with God,with God,

whatever you conceive whatever you conceive Him to be,Him to be,

and whatever your and whatever your labours and aspirations,labours and aspirations,in the noisy confusion of in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your life keep peace with your

soul. soul.

With all its sham, With all its sham, drudgery, and broken drudgery, and broken

dreams,dreams,it is still a beautiful it is still a beautiful

world.world.Be careful.Be careful.

Strive to be happy.Strive to be happy.