Exploring the Meaning and History of "Desiderata"

I came across the word "desideratum" through Word Daily, which I subscribe to via email. I love learning new words every day. Sometimes, playing with words and using them for different purposes is fun.

My friend and I would sometimes share the words we've learned and try to form sentences with them whenever possible. It's fun and helps us write better and use words properly in a sentence. Sometimes, we help each other correct mistakes and learn why a word might not suit a particular sentence. We must understand that we can only sometimes use a word to mean exactly what we think it means. Some words have specific meanings for specific things.

Naturally, I became curious about the meaning of "desideratum" and how it came to be. Sometimes, a word has a history behind it, including its usage in the past and present.

What is Desideratum?

The word, Desideratum, comes from Latin, where “deideratus” means "longed for" or "desired." This term is often used to describe something highly sought after or valued. The plural form, "Desiderata," is also Latin and means "things that are desired" or "desired things."

It is important to note that Desideratum can be applied to many different areas of life, such as personal goals, professional aspirations, or societal ideals. Pursuing Desiderata is often key to human progress and achievement. Therefore, it is important to identify and pursue one's own Desiderata to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Having Desiderata in our lives would be wonderful, even in small ways. Consistently striving to be kind, wise, and grateful can positively impact us and those around us. Embracing the poem's themes can help us find peace and happiness in our lives, no matter our challenges. By living our lives in accordance with its message, we can make the world a better place, one small step at a time.

Desiderata became one of the world's most loved and inspirational poems, and it is a testament to the poem’s strength and enduring appeal. This poem has a collection of 18 short lines of advice and encouragement. The poem was not widely known during his lifetime and only became popular in the 1960s and 1970s after he died in 1945.

The popularity of this poem all started when the Democrat Adlai Stevenson passed away, and the poem was discovered beside his bed. During the turbulent times of the flower power era, posters of the poem began to be widely seen around the United States and eventually across the globe as a source of inspiration. Leonard Nimoy, famous for playing Spock in Star Trek, read the poem on an album of poetry. In the early 1970s, it became a hit on the charts as a recording by television talk show host Les Crane.

Who is Max Ehrmann?

Max Ehrmann was an American writer and poet from Terre Haute, Indiana. He was the youngest of five children of German immigrants and graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, in 1894. Ehrmann then studied law and philosophy at Harvard University. After being a lawyer for several years, he went to work in his family's business. After 10 years in the business world, Ehrmann retired so he could devote all his time to literary work. Ehrmann wrote many poems, although none were well known until after his death. His two most famous poems are "Desiderata" (1927) and "A Prayer" (1906).

What is Desiderata?

Desiderata is a prose poem by Max Ehrmann. He began writing the poem in 1921, but it needed a title. Ehrmann gave a title based on the poem's title from its first phrase, Desiderata, which means "things desired" in Latin. The poem was first published in the April 5, 1933 issue of Michigan Tradesman magazine, with Ehrmann credited as its author.

In 1933, Ehrmann distributed the poem as a Christmas card, now officially titled "Desiderata.” During World War II, psychiatrist Merrill Moore distributed over 1,000 copies of the poem to his patients and soldiers without attribution. After Ehrmann died in 1945, his widow published the poem in 1948 in The Poems of Max Ehrmann. The 1948 version was one long prose paragraph, so earlier and later versions have been edited into separate lines and stanzas.

They say that Max Ehrmann obtained the federal copyright for Desiderata in 1927 (No. 962402). The poem was registered under "Indiana Publishing Company" on January 3, 1927. Ehrmann bequeathed the copyright to his wife, Bertha, who renewed it in 1954. After Bertha died in 1962, the copyright was bequeathed to her nephew.

(Note: I tried to find a reliable source if it is true that he obtained the federal copyright, but it is very difficult to find that information. I found info from the website for the federal copyright [1] [2], as quoted below)

The reasons behind Max Ehrmann's writing of Desiderata are not entirely known. However, it is believed that he wrote it for himself as a reminder of how to live a good life.

The prose poem…

Desiderata is a beautiful and inspiring poem that has touched the lives of millions of people. It is a reminder that even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, we can find peace and happiness if we focus on what is important in life. Max Ehrmann's poem encourages readers to be kind, wise, and grateful, and it has become a classic piece of American literature.

The poem's message of mindfulness and peaceful living has resonated with many people. It has been widely quoted and misquoted since its publication and shared and is often considered a classic piece of American literature, even today.

The poem begins with the line, "Go placidly amid the noise and haste," with the intention of encouraging readers to be kind and gentle, seek knowledge and wisdom, and be grateful for what they have. 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.

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. njoy 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.

What I have learned so far, there are some of the key themes of Desiderata:

• Peace: Desiderata encourages readers to seek peace and tranquility. It reminds us that even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, we can find peace if we focus on what is important.

• Kindness: Desiderata encourages readers to be kind and gentle to others. It reminds us that kindness is a powerful force that can improve the world.

• Wisdom: Desiderata encourages readers to seek knowledge and wisdom. It reminds us that wisdom is the key to a happy and fulfilling life.

• Gratitude: Desiderata encourages readers to be grateful for what they have. It reminds us that gratitude is a powerful emotion that can make us happier and more content.

I will put this prose poem up on my wall one day. It will remind me to be grateful, seek knowledge, and be kind to everyone.

You can read this article for the analysis of this poem and what it means behind them here.