Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clea…

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

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

-- written by Max Ehrmann in the 1920s

The Confused History of "Desiderata"

The author is Max Ehrmann, a poet and lawyer from Terre Haute, Indiana, who lived from 1872 to 1945. It has been reported that Desiderata was inspired by an urge that Ehrmann wrote about in his diary:

"I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift -- a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods."

Around 1959, the Rev. Frederick Kates, the rector of St. Paul's Church in Baltimore, Maryland, used the poem in a collection of devotional materials he compiled for his congregation. (Some years earlier he had come across a copy of Desiderata.) At the top of the handout was the notation, "Old St. Paul's Church, Baltimore A.C. 1692." The church was founded in 1692. [1]

As the material was handed from one friend to another, the authorship became clouded. Copies with the "Old St. Paul's Church" notation were printed and distributed liberally in the years that followed. It is perhaps understandable that a later publisher would interpret this notation as meaning that the poem itself was found in Old St. Paul's Church, dated 1692. This notation no doubt added to the charm and historic appeal of the poem, despite the fact that the actual language in the poem suggests a more modern origin. The poem was popular prose for the "make peace, not war" movement of the 1960s.

When Adlai Stevenson died in 1965, a guest in his home found a copy of Desiderata near his bedside and discovered that Stevenson had planned to use it in his Christmas cards. The publicity that followed gave widespread fame to the poem as well as the mistaken relationship to St. Paul's Church. [1]

As of 1977, the rector of St. Paul's Church was not amused by the confusion. Having dealt with the confusion "40 times a week for 15 years," he was sick of it. [1]

This misinterpretation has only added to the confusion concerning whether or not the poem is in the public domain.

By the way, Desiderata is Latin for "Things to be Desired."

A little more info brought to My attention by Sue (aka Bonnie by Me) ciclay (iPeace screen name)"Thank You Bonnie"

Song....Desiderata
by Les Crane
- Reached #8 in 1971

Desiderata. Desiderata. Desiderata.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender,
Be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others -
Even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons - they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter,
For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career -
However humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is.
Many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially do not feign affection, neither be cynical about love.
For in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
It is as perenial as the grass.
Take kindly the council of the years,
Gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune,
But do not distress yourself with imaginings -
Many fears are borne of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe.
No less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
Keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful. Strive to be happy.

Crane is a San Francisco TV talk show host and husband of Tina Louise, who played "Ginger" on Gilligan's Island. The Rolling Stones made their American television debut on The Les Crane Show on June 2, 1964.

According to the liner notes for the album, "Desiderata" was a poem written in 1906 and copyrighted under the title "Go Placidly Amid the Noise and Haste" in 1927 by Max Ehrmann, an Indiana lawyer. It was about the search for happiness in life. In the 1960s, the poem made its rounds around hippiedom as "anonymous" ancient wisdom - it was widely reprinted because most people assumed it was in the public domain. Crane read the poem on a street poster (which stated the words "Found in Old Saint Paul's Church, Baltimore, dated 1692") and decided to record it.

The musical background was by Fred Werner, who found the poster in a Los Angeles store.

This won the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording in 1971.

The first recording of the poem was by the UK group Every Which Way in 1970 as "Child of the Universe." (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for all above)

National Lampoon parodied this on the album Radio Dinner as "Deteriorata." It starts: "You are a fluke of the universe, you have no right to be here..." The parody featured Melissa Manchester as one of the background singers.

The title is in Latin. It means "something desired as essential."

This was Crane's only hit. He later moved into the computer software field. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England,

More info and again I thank Bonnie for reminding Me of this song, otherwise I wouldn't of found this info, and I thought She was thinking of Desperado by the Eagles and called Her a Silly Girl, when it was I that was the Silly Guy..See Older is not always Wiser

Someone wrote that Max Ehrmann wrote "Desiderata" in 1906 and was an Indiana lawyer. Not true. Max Ehrmann was a travelling salesman from Indiana during the Depression and he wrote this song in 1936 while staying in a Chicago hotel one night. He wrote it as an uplifting "poem" because of all of the sadness and strife in America due to the Depression. I have an original recording by Les Crane and I even memorized the words and still repeat them every night before I go to bed. I have a poster of the words, but it is incorrectly credited to a 17th century church. I don't know how that happened. (thanks-Stormy Werbe, Kokomo, Indiana)
- Stormy, Kokomo, IN

Does anyone remember Les Crane's TV show. I remember he'd take questions from the audience by pointing a rifle-type microphone at them from his set on stage.
- Lester, New York City, NY

I heard this song a few weeks ago on the local oldies station and it was unbelievable to hear Les Crane's rendition of a now near century-old poem. Let's not forget the gospel-like chorus that sang "You are a child of the universe. No less than the trees and the stars and you have a right to be here."
- Howard, St. Louis Park, MN

Doctor Demento played the National Lampoon spoof a good deal on his radio show back in the day. I still have a tape of a KMEN-FM, Los Angeles show from the mid-1970s.
- Mark, Falls Church, VA

Apparently Les didn't get permission to use the lyrics, not quite sure what happened though

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Comment by DonnaChristine Park on March 11, 2012 at 11:48pm: How glorious!!! Just recently, in preparation for an In-home Book Study ("RAY of HOPE for PEACE!"), the DESIDERATA seemed to be 'whispering' to My heart & encouraged Me to share its message with the members of Our Study Group. THANK YOU for reMINDing Me of this message...once again. Blessings of PEACE to You.

Comment by Motorcycle Hippy Al on January 3, 2010 at 2:35am: "Sorry" that You couldn't listen to it on the YouTube video, but Warner Music Group has banned any use of their music groups that They own on any YouTube video. Please BOYCOTT WMG products and their recording artists. Check that label before You buy some Music or see who the Musician You go see, belongs to.
Please support Independent Music. "Happy Trails" and let's get rid of these Billionaire Monopolys, that hust want to make money. Nobody is making money off of any YouTube videos They do it for the "Love of Music".
Peace, Al

Comment by sheldon r. shapiro on October 19, 2009 at 12:19am: thanks for adding me as a friend, Al, the picture of you and your ? is great. you look good! sincerely, sheldon

Comment by John Wynne on October 18, 2009 at 9:58pm: I had the poster Desiderata above my bed in the 70's when I was a teen. The poem helped to form my philosophical systems as I read it so many times. I have not come across Desiderata in many years, though I have heard the Dr. Demento version a few times too many. Very good stuff. Thanks for sharing.

Comment by Motorcycle Hippy Al on August 3, 2009 at 7:32pm: It helps for our cold Upstate New York winters, as I had to do it this past year, as I didn't get to Florida, like I usually do. I just had a Lady call Me furry last week, so now I got to add this to My wanted poster AKA "Furry"

Comment by s <3 on May 29, 2009 at 8:14pm: I've come over all peculiar, could you please get me a glass of water.

Comment by s <3 on May 29, 2009 at 8:07pm: Wow...... you're hot :)

Comment by Motorcycle Hippy Al on May 29, 2009 at 5:23pm: One of these days, I'll get sound and a whole new world will open up for Me, being able to hear YouTube videos and I won't have to get up and keep putting on new music on My stereo I'll be able to just sit on My ass and never leave the computer, I can see Me now 6' 5" and 300 lbs.

Just taken last Saturday at the Music Festival....not bad for someone that's been around the Sun 61 times.