Here’s a quote from William Henry Channing who lived in the heart of the 19th century. Funny how some things still resonate decades–even more than a century–later.
To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconsicous, grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.
And that is not a bad manifesto, I think.