Symphony
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, nor respectable; and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to have an oratory in my own heart, and present spotless sacrifices of dignified kindness in the temple of humanity; to spread no opinions glaringly out like show-plants, and yet leave the garden gate ever open for the chosen friend and the chance acquaintance; to make no pretenses to greatness; to seek no notoriety; to attempt no wide influence; to have no ambitious projects; to let my writings be the daily bubbling spring flowing through constancy, swelled by experiences, into the full, deep river of wisdom; to listen to stars and buds, to 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.
by W. H. Channing: as quoted in Octavius Brooks Frothingham: “Memoir of William Henry Channing” (1886), page 166
William Henry Channing was born on 25 May 1810 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a Christian Unitarian clergyman, a social reformer, and a writer. William Henry Channing passed on at 74 years of age on 23 December 1884 in London, England.
by W. H. Channing: as quoted in Octavius Brooks Frothingham: “Memoir of William Henry Channing” (1886), page 166
William Henry Channing was born on 25 May 1810 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. He became a Christian Unitarian clergyman, a social reformer, and a writer. William Henry Channing passed on at 74 years of age on 23 December 1884 in London, England.
