The Final Analysis

People are often unreasonable, illogical 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 false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed, anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank, anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.
Build, anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy.
Be happy, anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good, anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give the world the best you've got, anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them, anyway.

Eight of the original Ten Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith, 1968. Adopted by Mother Teresa and posted on the wall of a children's home in Calcutta