The Goal of Life

“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 healthy child,
a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson