Desiderata: Go Placidly amid the noise

The inspirational quote Desiderata by Max Ehrmann has been a calligraphy project that I've planned for a long time. "Go placidly amid the noise and haste" it begins, and continues to give you a recipe for the way to live a good life. I have been waiting to find a use for the amazing photographs from the NASA Spitzer Space telescope, and here it is: The Orion Constellation as a background for this beautiful quote.

I'm now making digital downloads available - you can print the calligraphy on your own printer, or have it printed in a number of wonderful places (I can give you referrals). This spiritual quote can be personalized for gift giving, or get it for yourself!

The entire text is below.

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 vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and 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 with your soul.


With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Words To Live By

Did you ever realize that almost every house you walk into has some written words on their wall? Even in homes where there is not much art work, you'll find a house blessing, a favorite scripture, a funny quote magnet on a refrigerator, wedding vows... People like to have words around them to motivate, inspire and remind us about what is important in our lives.

On my website Beautiful Calligraphy, I seek to take these meaningful quotes, and then design them so that the meaning is evident in the design. You can see from this quote that there is emphasis with color and change in the "hand" (we don't call it font - that's a computer term). That helps to both beautify the quote and bring out the sentiment.

When people ask me to do a custom quote and say: I only want black writing on cream color paper, I first ask them to "stretch" and consider color and design. I tell them I don't work in b/w only - there's always a design feature - and that's probably why they like it. Otherwise you could just use a font on your computer and print on a nice piece of paper. When they get their finished work, they always agree with me.

Another thing is: LEARN about what makes beautiful calligraphy. Anyone can put up a website and claim they are experienced. And that could be true: But what they are doing in not quality work. Go to "about" on my site and learn how to spot quality calligraphy, so that you will get what you pay for! Yes, artwork is in the eye of the beholder, but in calligraphy there are "rules" about how to do lettering.

The thing that many people like about my work is that I personalize it for you: if it's a gift, with the recipient's name, date, etc.. I love to collaborate with my clients so that they know they YES, they too are creative and we work together to get exactly what will please them. So that they now have Words To Live By!