description Desiderata Overview
Desiderata is a prose poem written in 1927 by American writer Max Ehrmann. The work gained massive cultural popularity in the late 1960s and 1970s, largely due to its widespread distribution through printed posters and audio recordings. The text promotes an ethos of peace, cautioning against comparisons with others and advising acceptance of the world despite its hardships. The widespread circulation frequently bore a false attribution to a 1692 inscription in Old Saint Paul's Church in Baltimore, a misconception debunked by Ehrmann's original manuscripts.
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Who actually wrote the Desiderata?
The Desiderata was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann, an American writer and poet from Terre Haute, Indiana. It is a prose poem offering philosophical life advice centered on peace, self-worth, and navigating the modern world.
Is it true the Desiderata was found in a 1692 church?
No, that is a common myth that spread after a 1956 reprint falsely attributed the text to a 1692 inscription in Old Saint Paul's Church in Baltimore. The rector had actually included Ehrmann's modern prose poem in his church newsletter.
Why did the Desiderata become so famous?
The poem gained massive popularity in the 1960s and 1970s as a counterculture anthem. A spoken-word recording by Les Crane reached the top of the charts in 1971, turning Ehrmann's work into a widespread cultural phenomenon.
What does the word 'Desiderata' actually mean?
The word is Latin for 'things desired' or 'things to be desired.' Ehrmann used the title to frame the text as a list of essential spiritual and philosophical principles to strive for in life.
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