Articles
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr.
Kent M. Keith
People are illogical, unreasonable,
and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will
accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you
are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank
anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be
shot down by the
smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may
be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help
but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give
the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give
the world the best you have anyway.
© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968,
renewed 2001
Anyway...Paradoxical Commandments
==============================================
This version was found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and
self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may
accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are
successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive
you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating,
others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity
and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you
do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best
you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In
the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you
and them anyway.
-this version is credited to Mother Teresa