Poem

This poem was written by Mother Teresa and is engraved on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta.

People are often unreasonable, illogical,
& 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, 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.

(from Jing)