Max Ehrmann, Author of "Desiderata" Quiz

Answer: German-American

Max Ehrmann's parents emigrated from Bavaria in the 1840s. Max Ehrmann was born on September 26, 1872 in Terre Haute, Indiana. Max's parents, Maximilian Ehrmann, Sr. and Margaret Barbara Lutz Ehrmann had five children. Max was the youngest.

Answer: Things desired

"Desiderata" is a Latin phrase meaning "things desired". Ehrmann wrote this poem when he was 54 years old. The poem did not become famous until after his death, which was September 9, 1945.

Answer: DePauw University

When Max Ehrmann was studying at DePauw in Greencastle, Indiana he was the editor of "DePauw Weekly", the school newspaper. Later, he became the editor of Harvard's Delta Tau Delta's national magazine which was called "Rainbow". It is DePauw which awarded Ehrmann the "Doctor of Letters Honorary Degree" in 1937.

Answer: Philosophy and law

Ehrmann studied philosophy and law at Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He returned to Terre Haute, Indiana to practice law and became a deputy state attorney in Vigo County, Indiana. He worked in this position for a two year term.

Answer: Meatpacking

Ehrmann worked in his brother Charles' meatpacking business as the credit manager, because being a deputy prosecutor was not interesting to him. He spent his time, after work, writing poems and essays. When he was aged 40 he left the family business to become a full time writer.

Answer: Max Ehrmann: A Poet's Life

"Max Ehrmann: A Poet's Life" was written in 1951 by Bertha Pratt Ehrmann, the wife of Max Ehrmann. Bertha was the founder of the King Classical School in Terre Haute. After Max died, Bertha dedicated the remainder of her life to republishing some of her husband's works. She wrote his biography and edited "The Journal of Max Ehrmann". She died on January 16, 1962.

Answer: Les Crane

Les Crane (born Lesley Stein) narrated the beautiful prose poem "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann in 1971, under the Warner Brother's label. He won a "Best Spoken Word" Grammy for this recording which reached #8 on the Billboard Charts.

Answer: Adlai Stevenson

When Adlai Stevenson died in 1965, there was a copy of "Desiderata" on his bedside table. A church had also dated the poem as being from the 17th century. The confusion was eventually sorted out and Max Ehrmann was given proper credit for his wonderful poem.

Answer: A bronze statue of Max Ehrmann

On August 26, 2010, in Terre Haute, Indiana, a bronze statue of Max Ehrmann was unveiled. The statue showed Ehrmann sitting on a park bench and it was sculpted by Bill Wolfe. On a walkway, nearby, part of "Desiderata" is inscribed for any interested passerby to read.

Answer: "And listen to others"

The line that follows "Speak your truth quietly and clearly;" is "and listen to others,". The entire first verse is as follows:

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story."