Max Ehrmann





Max Ehrmann

Author profile


born
September 26, 1872 in Indiana, The United States

died
September 09, 1945

gender
male

genre


About this author

Max Ehrmann (September 26, 1872 - September 9, 1945), an attorney from Indiana, was best known for writing the prose poem "Desiderata" (Latin: "things desired as essential") in 1927.

Ehrmann, who was of German descent, received a degree in English from DePauw University, followed by a degree in Philosophy from Harvard University. He then returned to his hometown of Terre Haute, Indiana to practice law. Eventually this led him to work in his family's meatpacking business and in the overalls manufacturing industry. Finally at the age of 41, Ehrmann decided to forget such work and become a writer. At the age of 55 he wrote Desiderata, which achieved fame only after his death


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Average rating: 4.37 · 225 ratings · 43 reviews · 27 distinct works
Desiderata: A Poem for a Way o...
4.47 of 5 stars 4.47 avg rating — 98 ratings — published 1972 — 4 editions
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The Desiderata of Happiness: A...
4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 47 ratings — published 1975 — 4 editions
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Desiderata: Words For Life
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4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2003
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Desiderata
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4.82 of 5 stars 4.82 avg rating — 11 ratings4 editions
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Desiderata for Cat Lovers: A G...
4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2007
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The Desiderata Of Love: A Coll...
4.71 of 5 stars 4.71 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 1995
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Desiderata for Dog Lovers: A G...
4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — published 2007
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Desiderata: A Survival Guide F...
4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
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The Poems of Max Ehrmann
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4.5 of 5 stars 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1948
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The Desiderata of Faith: A Col...
4.5 of 5 stars 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1996
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More books by Max Ehrmann…
Desiderata: A Poem for a Way o... The Desiderata of Happiness: A... The Desiderata Of Love: A Coll... The Desiderata of Faith: A Col... The Desiderata of Hope: A Coll...
Desiderata (5 books)
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4.4203821656051 of 5 stars 4.42 avg rating — 157 ratings
“With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.”
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life

“Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love – for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment is it perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you from 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 labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.”
Max Ehrmann, Desiderata: A Poem for a Way of Life

“Desiderata"
Go placidly amid the noise and the 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 ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or 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 as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly 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 dark 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.”
Max Ehrmann