The Poem I Wish I Read 10 Years Ago
Update: 2025-07-21
Description
Last week, a reader sent me a poem that stopped me in my tracks.
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, birds, 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 Ellery Channing
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better distillation of a good life captured in so few words...
•••
Andrew Huberman called my first book "An important clarifying force in anyone’s search to make the best possible choices for their life."
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