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“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” (Reinhold Niebuhr)

- The Serenity Prayer (c. 1942)
Though earlier variants may have existed, Niebuhr was the first to state this so succinctly, and also the first to copyright it. Since then, it has been adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12 step groups.