The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent M. Keith

People are illogical,
unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good,
people will accuse you of selfish
ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful,
you will win false friends
and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today
will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness
make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women
with the biggest ideas
can be shot down
by the smallest men and women
with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs
but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building
may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help
but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have
and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

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