Serenity and Inner Peace

For solitude sometimes is best society, And short retirement urges sweet return.

And add to these retired Leisure, That in trim gardens takes his pleasure.

Sober, steadfast, and demure.

He gave his honors to the world again, His blessed part to heaven, and slept in peace.

A peace above all earthly dignities, A still and quiet conscience.

This music crept by me upon the waters, Allaying both their fury, and my passion, With its sweet air.

They that have power to hurt and will do none, That do not do the thing they most do show, Who, moving others, are themselves as stone, Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow.

Rest, rest, perturbed spirit!

I could be well content To entertain the lag-end of my life With quiet hours.

Things past redress are now with me past care.

Our concern be peace of mind: some old crone let us seek, To spit on us for luck and keep unlovely things afar.

The pursuit, even of the best things, ought to be calm and tranquil.

True happiness is to enjoy the present without anxious dependence on the future.

There’s no greater absurdity than taking everything seriously.

Don’t work too hard. Fool around a bit. Be lazy. Don’t worry, Life is —forever.

Finish each day before you begin the next, and interpose a solid wall of sleep between the two. This you cannot do without temperance.

Seek not, my soul, the life of the immortals; but enjoy to the full the resources that are within thy reach.

The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.

Do not seek to bring things to pass in accordance with your wishes, but wish for them as they are, and you will find them.

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

If you go off into a far, far forest and get very quiet, you'll come to understand that you're connected with everything.

Let your mind wander in simplicity, blend your spirit with the vastness, follow along with things the way they are, and make no room for personal views - then the world will be governed.

The moment is timeless.

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen.