To live content with small means-
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion,
to be worthy, 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 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. 

-william ellery channing