  max ehrmann (september 26, 1872 â september 9, 1945) was an american writer, poet, and attorney from terre haute, indiana, widely known for his 1927 prose poem "desiderata" (latin: "things desired"). he often wrote on spiritual themes. ==education== ehrmann was of german descent; both his parents emigrated from bavaria in the 1840s. young ehrmann was educated at the terre haute fourth district school and the german methodist church. he received a degree in english from depauw university in greencastle, indiana, which he attended from 1890 to 1894. while there, he was a member of delta tau delta's beta beta chapter  and was editor of the school newspaper, depauw weekly. ehrmann then studied philosophy and law at harvard university, where he was editor of delta tau delta's national magazine the rainbow, circa 1896. ==professional life== ehrmann returned to his hometown of terre haute, indiana in
1872_births 1945_deaths American_male_poets American_male_writers American_people_of_German_descent American_poets American_prosecutors DePauw_University_alumni Harvard_Law_School_alumni Indiana_lawyers People_from_Terre_Haute,_Indiana