DESIDERATA  -  Max Ehrmann's Iconic Poem  

It was written by Max Ehrmann, an American lawyer and poet, in the late 1920s. It was was famously misattributed to an anonymous source for decades.

Derived from Latin, the word translates to "things desired" or "essentials," representing qualities one should strive for in life.

The central message of Desiderata is to encourage individuals to navigate life with calmness, integrity, and respect for themselves and others, embracing peace amidst challenges and maintaining a balanced perspective.

In the 1950s, a rector at the church included the poem in a collection of devotional materials, and the church's founding date (1692) was mistaken for the poem's date.

It lacks a formal rhyme scheme or meter, instead using the natural rhythms of speech to deliver its philosophical advice.

Ehrmann wrote the prose poem in 1927, but it did not reach global fame until several decades later.

Born in 1872 in Terre Haute, Indiana, Ehrmann was a lawyer and philosopher who transitioned into writing to explore spiritual and social truths. His work often focused on finding tranquility within an industrialised, noisy society until his death in 1945.

Its message of authenticity and "being gentle with yourself" resonated deeply with the era's search for alternative spirituality and peace.

While it mentions God, the advice is widely considered "spiritual-secular," focusing more on universal ethics and psychological well-being than specific dogma. This approach is epitomised in the line "Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be."

No you don't. In the generous spirit of Desiderata, we have three digital poster designs available Free to Download for personal or educational use. You can download them here on our website without needing to give any details. The QR code is also printed on the back of our Desiderata Notebooks, Journals and Planners for people who purchase on Amazon without visiting this website. The three digital designs are as shown below. Only the digital art is free - you need to print and frame them yourself. Go Placidly my friend 😇

The full original 1927 text of Max Ehrmann's Desiderata is a poetic prose piece offering timeless guidance on living a meaningful and peaceful life. SomeThink Publications honors this influential work by providing faithful and carefully edited editions that preserve the authenticity of Ehrmann's words. The original text reads: Go placidly amid the noise and 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 the 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.

Over the decades, Desiderata has been the subject of several myths and unintended edits. Most of these variations occurred as the poem was passed around via word-of-mouth, unauthorized posters, and church bulletins. The most significant changes to watch out for include: 1. The "Old St. Paul's Church" Myth The most famous "variation" isn't a change in the words, but a change in the origin story. In the 1950s, a priest at St. Paul's Church in Baltimore included the poem in a mimeographed collection for his congregation. The church was founded in 1692, and a reader mistakenly thought the date applied to the poem. The Result: For years, people believed it was an "Ancient Anonymous Poem" from the 17th century rather than a 1927 copyright by Max Ehrmann. 2. "Be Cheerful" vs. "Be Careful" Near the very end of the poem, the original text reads: "Strive to be happy." In many popular reprints from the 1960s and 70s, this was often altered or preceded by phrases like "Be cheerful" or "Be careful." While small, these shifts change the tone from a call to action (strive) to a simple suggestion of a mood (be). 3. The Missing "Dirty" Word In the line "Keep interested in your own career, however humble...", some versions from the mid-century changed "humble" to "lonely." This likely happened due to poor transcriptions or a desire to make the poem feel more sympathetic to people feeling isolated, though it deviates from Ehrmann’s focus on work and vocation. 4. Punctuation and Line Breaks Ehrmann wrote Desiderata as a prose poem—essentially a series of paragraphs. Over time, it has been broken down into "stanzas" that look like traditional verse. While the words often stay the same, this change in formatting alters the rhythm and how a reader pauses between the pieces of advice. Because the poem was often copied by hand or re-typed on old manual typewriters, these small "dirty" errors became "canon" for many people who grew up seeing the incorrect version on posters.

Absolutely. While written nearly a century ago, Desiderata serves as an unofficial manifesto for Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in the modern professional world. Its advice to "Go placidly amid the noise and haste" is the ultimate antidote to the "always-on" culture of 2026. In a workplace setting, the poem advocates for psychological safety and high-integrity communication. When Ehrmann suggests being on "good terms with all persons" without surrender, he is describing the balance of professional collaboration and personal boundaries. The poem’s warning against "vexations to the spirit"—specifically loud and aggressive persons—is a timeless critique of toxic workplace dynamics. By encouraging individuals to "keep interest in your own career," it fosters a healthy sense of personal development and purpose, which is essential for long-term retention and mental health. While the mention of "God" is present, the poem's overall philosophy is universal and secular enough to fit comfortably in diverse corporate environments, focusing more on integrity, resilience, and the "art of the pause" than on any specific dogma. It is less a religious text and more a "Thinking Person’s Guide" to staying sane in the boardroom.