My symphony: To live content with small means; To seek elegance rather than luxury, To be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; To listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages, with an 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 commonplace. This to be my symphony. --William Henry Channing (1810-1884)