Desiderata

The Desiderata, also referred to as the rule of life of Baltimore, is a famous text about "How you live a happy life ."

It was founded in 1927 by Max Ehrmann ( 1872-1945 ), a German -born lawyer from Terre Haute, United States, written. A common Modern Sage claims it came from the Old St. Paul's Church, Baltimore 1692nd

Literally, the title ( desiderare from the Latin, " desire ", " want " ) about ( blessing ) wish. See also the article desideratum.

Max Ehrmann previously requested on January 3, 1927, the copyright for this poem, but the lost his offspring in a process in 1976 because it had been published in the 1940 without copyright notice. The poem has since been in the public domain. Chronologically, this is the first authentic source on the origin of the poem. In 1933 he used the Desiderata as part of Christmas greetings to his friends. The Ehrmanns widow published in 1948, three years after the death of her husband, a book of poems entitled " The poems of Max Ehrmann ," published by Bruce Humphries Publishing Company, Boston.

Dissemination

Rev. Frederick Ward Kates, who from 1956 to 1961 rector ( pastor ) of Old St. Paul's was ( a church in Baltimore, USA), published the Desiderata in 1959 in a collection of his parishioners letters in the book "Between Dawn and Dark". Here you will also find the correct statement of responsibility. Is on the cover of this book, as in such publications usual, the name of the Church and its founding year, so here "From the Old Saint Paul 's Church, Baltimore, 1692 " ( "from the old St. Paul's Church, Baltimore 1692 "). From this it was wrongly closed - and it is still rumored as Urban Legend - that we are dealing with an inscription in this church and this wisdom has come from ancient times. The text was also regarded as public domain from this misconception and multiplied millions of times.

When the politician and former U.S. presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson died in 1965, a copy of the Desiderata lay on his bed. This helped the text to immense popularity - especially since Adlai Stevenson had played an important role during the Cuban missile crisis.

The poem reflects the life and the life philosophy of the hippies and the resist " make- love -not- war" movement of the 60s and became widespread. Today, it is often found as a motto on everyday objects and collections in quotes.

1968, participated in Leonard Nimoy of the poem and brought it out under the title " Spock Thoughts". The American radio personality Les Crane reached 1971 so number 8 in the Billboard charts and received in the same year won a Grammy ( " Best Spoken Word Recording" ) for its set to music hands- recording of the text. In German, this chant version was titled " Desiderata ( Love at Home ) " with German text by Günter Loose also recorded in 1971 by Friedrich Schütter and published on his LP " A man."