Sunday, November 25, 2007

Success

To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I will file this under "things I re-learned in 4th grade". (It's a BIG file!)

2 comments:

tz said...

endure the betrayal of falase friends...hmmmm

of course i honed in on THAT one...hahaha, beautiful sentiment

Colleen O said...

I think that's why I thought it particularly insightful!