And I stumbled across a poem that is said to have been written by and found on the wall in Mother Theresa's Home for Children in Calcutta. I was skeptical, did a little snooping around, and found that, despite some bad plagiarising, the poem is real and seems to be accurately credited to her.

Anyway, it's a little hokey and those that know me as the bitter, cynical bastard may laugh, but here it is anyway:


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.