This poem was written by St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Theresa) and is engraved on the wall of her home for children in Calcutta.
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 a year 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 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 never was between you and them anyway.
