Mother Teresa hung a copy of this poem on a wall of the orphanage she founded in Calcutta. Its source is unknown.

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. 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 is never between you and them anyway.