the paradoxical commandments

people are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

forgive them anyway.

if you are kind, people will 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, they may be jealous;

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