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 true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you;
Be honest 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.
Mother Teresa
1910-1997
[Reportedly inscribed on the wall of Mother Teresa’s children’s home in Calcutta, and attributed to her. However, an article in the New York Times has since reported (March 8, 2002) that the original version of this poem was written by Kent M. Keith.]
Lisa’s Cheap Therapy blog 
MT is still one of my FAVS and someone I’d like to have dinner with.
don’t really care who wrote it…. just wish I could live it more closely!!!!
Love it! I might post it in my classroom (minus the last few lines, for the sake of separation of church and state in the public school. I think it’s good advice for believers & non-believers alike, as well as those who just aren’t sure!) It expresses exactly what I am always trying to tell my students about their need to TRY to do the right thing, regardless of anyone else’s behavior or opinion. (Of course, I will feel the need to verbally specify the related, “People may push,hit,kick, or tease you—refrain from pushing,hitting,kicking, or teasing anyway!”) /:
Linda, Judi and ML, SO glad this reminder works for ya’ll, too!