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, babes and sages, with open heart — to bear all cheerfully — do all bravely, await occasions — never hurry; in a word, to let the spiritual unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.
this is to be my symphony.
-by william ellery channing
xxx
image: an exquisite waste of time