Shattered: Coffee In Ceramic
As I was sitting with the Jones’ yesterday morning, sipping coffee and listening to an early morning news broadcast, I stared at the coffee mug in my hands. There, scrawled in white lettering across the black ceramic mug was the following quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson on Success:
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 a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
There’s just one problem, it’s allegedly not a quote by Emerson, rather by Bessie Stanley. Don’t the mug manufacturers believe that it isn’t an Emerson quote? Don’t they care? Is it another conspiracy theory to hold down a female essayist? (EDIT: Thanks to multiple discussions, that last sentence apparently didn’t come off as “tongue firmly planted in cheek” as I’d hoped. My apologies.)
Whatever the case, it didn’t really matter as it managed to percolate in my mind, jostling thoughts and memories, bubbling everything to the boiling point. On this particular morning, of this particular day, in this specific moment, like a superheated liquid introduced to a room temperature container, I shattered.
Why, thank you, Pete. I do make damn fine coffee, if I do say so myself. It doesn’t come with a fish in the percolator like it does in Twin Peaks USA, but it is still damn fine.
Randy: It was a damn fine cup of coffee. Damn fine!
Craig: Yes, this really happened.
Trish: The jury’s still out.
Shattered in the good way, or the bad way?
Did this really happen, or is this another one of your stories?
Yeah, but how was the coffee?
Wow…Bessie Stanley. I first encountered this quote at a Student Council state conference when I was in 10th grade (late 80s). I’ve embraced it ever since then and always assumed, since it was always attributed to him, that it was written by Emerson. I’m glad to know the story behind the actual quote. Thanks!
I’m sure manufacturers aren’t trying the keep us ladies under the big male thumb of commerce, but I’m sure selling something that is credited to Emerson sells better than something credited to an unknown women from the early 20th century – regardless of how awesome the quote is.
We had a great time with you. Come back real soon, now.