Monday Philosophy

William Henry Channing (1810-1884) was a Transcendentalist, inspired by Margaret Fuller to embrace a philosophy of self-discovery and individual revelation. Here's his definition of what that meant to him:

"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 listen to stars and birds,
babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard;
to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await
occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the
spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up
through the common—this is my symphony."