Quote of the Week...from Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
                                                                                    ---Max Ehrmann,  Desiderata.

Desiderata is a famous piece of "prose poetry"...the term sounds oxymoronic to me...composed ninety years ago by American writer Max Ehrmann.  "Desiderata" means that which is desired, and Ehrmann listed quite a few of his "favorite things" when it came to what he believed to comprise a life well-lived.  The above quote, although not my favorite one from Desiderata, is the opening line and sets the tone for what follows.  The instructions are quite clear: although it may seem more fitting to be placid when things are quiet, slow, and relaxed, the very counterintuitive idea of going through difficult, loud, and stressful times with a peaceful demeanor, however, can go a long way toward changing those circumstances...both for oneself and those around them.  And going along with this is the notion that part of this placidity is being careful about the relative values of speaking one's piece and of holding the tongue in such situations...and the often negative consequences that the latter can bring...

I think that there is within us an innate desire to conform to the patterns of the society around us.  Few of us want to stand apart and alone, and I wonder whether the tendency to feed off stressful situations and respond in kind might be related to this wanting to fit in.  It may take a determined, conscious effort to restrain oneself in the face of turmoil...especially when a threat or danger is perceived, with that instinctual "fight or flight" response kicking in.  The idea of walking through tough circumstances quietly and calmly is neither fight nor flight: instead, it may well be the epitome of courage...

I first heard Desiderata in early 1972 when a radio talk show host, Les Crane, read and recorded it.  It was a minor singles hit at the time, but it made a big impression on me...not that I've always practiced what it preached.  From time to time I think I'll write about some other sections of this very interesting work...