He registered for his US copyright in 1927 via its first phrase. The April 5, 1933 issue of Michigan Tradesman magazine (No. 2585) published the full, original text on its cover, crediting Max Ehrmann as its author. In 1933 he distributed the poem in the form of a Christmas card,[1] evidently entitling it “Desiderata” because a few days later he wrote in his Journal that a Kansas editor criticized his “Desiderata”.[3] Several years before 1942 a depressed woman gave psychiatrist Merrill Moore a copy of the poem without the name of the author, allowing him to hand out over 1,000 unattributed copies to his patients and soldiers during World War II.[1]
After Ehrmann died in 1945, his widow first published the work in 1948 in The Poems of Max Ehrmann. The Reverend Frederick Kates handed out about 200 unattributed copies to his congregation at Old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore, during 1959 or 1960.[1][4]
The 1948 version was in the form of one long prose paragraph, so earlier and later
versions were presumably also in that form. Long after the author’s death in 1945,
hence not authorized by him, the work was partitioned into sub paragraphs or stanzas.
The text was widely distributed in poster form in the 1960s and 1970s.[5] It was first partitioned into a few subparagraphs separated by “distinctive spacing figures” in 1970 by Pro Arts and Crescendo Publishers.[6] Later It was split into four or more subparagraphs separated by new lines in DePauw University’s Mirage for 1978,[7] and in the July/August 1999 issue of the Saturday Evening Post.[8] In some versions, almost all instances of “and” are replaced by ampersands, “&”.[9] Other versions change “the noise and the haste” to “the noise and haste” and change “Be cheerful.” to “Be careful.”, notably the 1971 spoken word recording by Les Crane.[10]
On January 3, 1927, Ehrmann registered “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, etc.” under US copyright number A 962402.[11][12] In 1948, three years after Ehrmann’s death, Bertha K. Ehrmann, his widow, included “Desiderata” in The Poems of Max Ehrmann, published that year by the Bruce Humphries Publishing Company of Boston.[2][13]
In 1954, she renewed the copyright.[14]
In 1959 or 1960, Reverend Frederick Kates, director of Saint Paul’s Church in Baltimore, Maryland, included “Desiderata” in a compilation of devotional materials for his congregation. The compilation included the church’s foundation date, “Old Saint Paul’s Church, Baltimore AD 1692,” which readers subsequently took, and sometimes still do take, to be the date of the poem’s composition.[13][15]
In 1967, Robert L. Bell acquired the publishing rights from Bruce Humphries Publishing Company, where he was president, and then bought the copyright from Richard Wright, nephew and heir to the Ehrmann works.[16]
In August 1971, the poem was published in Success Unlimited magazine, without permission from Robert L. Bell. In a 1975 lawsuit against the magazine’s publisher, Combined Registry Co., the court ruled (and subsequently the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld) that copyright had been abandoned and forfeited because the poem had been authorized for publication without a copyright notice in 1933 and 1942 – and that
the poem was therefore in the public domain.[1][17][18]
However, Bell refused to recognize the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision.
Because the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, the decision was only valid in the Seventh’s jurisdiction, the states of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Consequently, Bell continued to pursue others in other jurisdictions, either demanding they remove the poem from their publications, giving permission for a small portion to be published, or receiving royalties until his death in 2009.[19][20][21]
Desiderata – Bing video
This is the original text from the book where Desiderata was first published.
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 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 there will always 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 people 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.
by Max Ehrmann ©1927
This is STILL one of the best montage films of this period.
It set the standard for creative music videos.
“The Stable Song” – Gregory Alan Isakov with the Colorado Symphony (official video).
I discovered Gregory, one day 10 years ago shopping with a girlfriend, his music was also playing in the background, The Stable Song. I actually stopped and had such peace fill my heart; I could swear this person with the most soulful voice is indeed a great gift from God. When I hear his voice, God wraps his arms around me. This is probably the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard in my entire life. I am convinced that Gregory Alan Isakov has written the perfect song.
Good things happen to those who pursue it. Redemption is a beautiful thing.
I first heard this song in the movie ‘The peanut butter falcon’. It was touching enough
to find the artist behind it. Today I can’t get enough out of it, like a supplement. I’m a musician…. And it’s beautiful. I’m also a backslider / truth seeker. This song & video speaks powerful volumes as if it was divinely inspired. Depending on self-perspective, it can be very potent & motivational. I wish I could tell this man what his music means to me. Especially this song. As an Active-Duty service member, you see and go through a lot. And you keep it buried deep. Whenever I feel like crying or breaking down, I come here.
This is my peace. And by the end, I’m ok.
Thank you for this masterpiece
This song reminds me of my family that has now broken to pieces. Being a man, I feel a need to not show emotion. But I doubt anyone will read this. But if you do, and you are…stay up. And find that song that keeps your memories you cherish the most alive and warm. Never forget who you are.
I Discovered Gregory’s music about 7 years ago.
I’m a combat vet and have struggled a lot returning home from this latest deployment.
I’ve spent hours working listening to all of his music – but this song especially has brought me so much peace. My wife and I were able to see him in concert last month in Denver.
It was incredible. Felt like I completed the journey home – finally.
Very grateful for this artist.
.Let it speak, I say 🙂 so good! 🙂
When my newborn son, Jack, couldn’t sleep at night or was having teething pain,
I would put this record on and sing to him and his whole body would sync to the music, and it soothed him into a peaceful slumber. When I listen again, I feel his delicate body
in my arms, see his porcelain face in my mind, and smell that fresh baby scent.
This song is magic. Michael 2 years ago
I truly believe this is the most beautiful song ever created. I’m someone that is obsessed with music, listening to songs from all different genres and eras, with a preference towards old music. And yet when I discovered this song in December, I was literally speechless.
It touched my soul. I have listened to it at least once almost every day since, I’d even say it has helped me cope with the grief of losing both my grandparents in 2020. The words just resonate with me, as does the ‘circle of life’ vibe. “Turn these diamonds straight back into coal.” And of course, the instrumentals just fit perfectly with it.
One of the world’s most beautiful songs. How can violence and hurt occur in a world with music like this. I can’t imagine anyone topping this for me personally, and I had actually already thought that once when I heard San Luis for the first time in October. So until Gregory comes out with another song that is basically a transformative religious experience for me, this reigns supreme. I strongly believe this is the greatest song ever written in the history of music. I have heard some incredible stuff. But nothing so poetic and pure as what Gregory put together here. Pure perfection: How did I just now find him? Such beautiful songs. Amazing lyrics. I’m so glad I finally discovered Gregory Alan Isakov.
I recently discovered his music, no words can describe the emotions, the spirit is alive in his music, you can feel it. This music makes me so thankful, thankful to be alive.
Thankful to be able to be a part of this crazy world for the brief amount of time I’ve been gifted. Each day is a gift, each breath is a gift… We all should make the most of it. This is one perfectly beautiful piece of music right here. It’s not very often that every single aspect of a song fits together so well, but you have definitely achieved it. With the studio version and this one also.
Nostalgic for a place I’ve never been too. This song speaks to the spirit. Some kind of sweet innocence you had as a child but somehow lost during adolescence. The life the spirit is living, but the physical body is apart from. The song speaks to you from another place. Don’t you love it when a song takes you on a journey and gives you a feeling you can only hear that first time. This song is helping me through one of the toughest experiences I have ever been through. Thank YOU, thank you, thank you.
Ian Dircksen for your Inspiration Always.
Change the world by being yourself !!! 🙂