To Laugh Often and Much

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of the 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 a healthy child, a garden patch

or a redeemed human condition;

To know that one life has breathed easier

because you lived here.

This is to have succeeded.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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