"But let this not blind you to what virtue there is..."

Thanks!

If life could be handled that simply. I love this and remember Vincent Price reading it on The Carol Burnett show. I thought it amazing then too.

Still the best advice ever! Oh, if we could be so wise. R-

Everything the man said is true. If we could live our lives like that, it would be a far better place!

Great advice. He's awful easy on the dull and ignorant. I appreciate that...

Love this. I had a friend who had this poem framed and hanging on her living room wall. Beautiful.

Trudgh, you are so gorgeous. xox

Vanna, can I have a g? xox

e. May I buy a vowel. Look at all the trouble I went to...just to bump you.xoxoxoxoxox

I am more familiar with Gilbert Gottfried's version.
R

Love is as perennial as the years. Thanks for bringing us this video

I met him once in person and was just held captive.
Too bad the good die so young, well not so young maybe but too soon.
Rated with hugs

Xeonlit, virture is sensed in the gut not in the eyes, so we can always know when it is there and when it is not.

Lunchlady2, Ty 4 verfiying it; I thought I was the only one.

Dave, I find interesting that he was a lawyer.

Scanner, we can only strive to practice it.

Cap'n Parrothead, me too.

MAWB, ty 4 dropping by.

Robin Sneed, ty & Vanna is off tonight.

littlewille, Elmer Fudd's was even funnier.

RomanticPoetess, this is true.

Linda, wow! You met him? You should write a blog about it.

Be at peace with God. Thanks.

That rating bug is active. Commenting first and then rating is removing the rate after I leave your post. Irritating.

Grif, ty 4 droppping by. Don't worry, I don't this for the ratings (yeah, right).

I remember this poem being popular on radio in the late seventies or early eighties, I think. Isn't is a calm blessing knowing that truth has no dimensions or expiration? Thank you for reminding me of this.

Susan, ty 4 dropping by. I remember the Vincent Price reading, but not the song although a lot of people made it into a song.

Thanks, Trudge. I didn't know this poem.

Trudge164, thank you so much for introducing me to this noble poem. It feels so sacred to me. Wanting to next see these powerful words, I looked it up on Google, then thought you and your readers might like to see it too, after hearing it. So here it is, I hope you don't mind me taking so much comment space...

desiderata - by max ehrmann

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 to the dull and the 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 perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to 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 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.

I hadn't thought about the Desiderata in a long time. I used to have it on my wall...maybe it's time to re-display it. Thanks for posting this today.

Rob St. Amant, I'm glad I was able to introduce you to it.

Poorsinner101, thanks for looking. It is probably in The Carol Burnett Show's DVD collection, but I don't have that kind of cash.

maria heng, not a problem. I was going to accompany the video with the words, but if you visit the YouTube site the author of the video added the words in his comment box.

Owl, anytime.

For almost 40 years these words have replayed in my life. I used to have them posted in my dorm, I read them before that time. The words in this conveyed the counsel of a wise sage to me, in my youth I sought the council of these words to make some sense of my life. When I was young the intensity of life was amplified by my somewhat sensitive type of nature. I think many young women feel this time of trying on love in a similar way. I clung to this and it was sustaining. Thanks so much for bringing this back to me. R

One of my all time favorites. Thanks for the video.

It's always exactly right._r

I never knew the true author until now, thanks!

Great post Trudge, incredible poem.

"Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story"

Perhaps all OSers should keep this in mind when all the flame wars begin.

Can you iamgine a world of people like this guy? What a place it would be to live in.

Man! To hear Vincent Price recite this would have been awesome. I love that guys voice.

This is the first explanation of the poem's origin I've seen. When I first heard it years ago it was introduced as having been found in some dusty collection of texts and that the author was unknown.

Around that time someone wrote a parody. Not sure of the title, but the first line is, "You are a fool of the universe. You have no right to be here." Kinda funny.

Wallace Stevens once wrote, "in ghostlier demarcations, keener sounds..." from his poem "The Idea of Order at Key West." Your gift to us is a needful reminder that we struggle on a spiritual level and by choosing the best we can overcome the worst.
Thank you.

SheilaTGTG55, I brought it back for you and for all of us.

Sweetfeet, you are welcome.

Joan H., true dat.

Anne Cameron Cutri, no problem.

Matt Paust, that's the first time I heard of this poem being parodied.

Catherine Griffiths, Wallace Stevens is one of my lesser known favorite poets.

Briana, you are welcome.

Boomer Bob, they should put this on the OS main page as part of the masthead. It should in the TOS. Listening to Price recite it was simply amazing.

Hmmm... I had read that Desiderata was found written on a church wall in Boston - anonymous author. . . Anyway, I've always loved it. Thanks for reminding it, Trudge. ~r

FusunA, here is the back story to this poem:
According to a tribute page from his alma mater, "Unfortunately, Ehrmann received no recognition at that moment. The copy at Stevenson’s bedside was a reprint of a reprint, inaccurately attributing the poem to an unknown, 17th-century author. "
Source link:
http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=23972

The way his face moves is so funny and I loved the message. If only I could remember it...

Caroline, with the Internet you don't have to remember anything.