Community Chat

[newziesuzie]

I think this is good practical advice but do you think

these are true
or are they too cynical?

::
::

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

http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/index.html

 😊✌😊

[newziesuzie]

MORE INFO:

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::

{{The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968 as part of a booklet for student leaders.

For more than thirty years, the Paradoxical Commandments have circled the globe. They have been put on walls and refrigerator doors, featured in speeches and articles, preached from pulpits, and shared extensively on the web. They have been used by business leaders, military commanders, government officials, religious leaders, university presidents, social workers, teachers, rock stars, parents, coaches, and students.

Mother Teresa thought the Paradoxical Commandments were important enough to put up on the wall of her children's home in Calcutta.}}

😊

[gmkb]

The language is a little strong and crude, but I believe the basic premise is good.

[StylishLady]

Sounds like the old Golden Rule pretty much covers them all. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. 

[MaggieMack]

The following is the version credited to Mother Teresa. I have always favored hers:

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.

Her version is kinder, less strident, more life oriented, less business oriented. I absolutely love her final line.

[newziesuzie]

Thanks @MaggieMack!😊

If you check the link in my OP
the author of the original piece 
posted the different altered

versions and
commented:

http://www.paradoxicalcommandments.com/mother-teresa-connection.html

"The Mother Teresa Connection to the Paradoxical Commandments"

"Kent Keith's comments on this version:

Of course, this is not the original version,

nor the version that was on Mother Teresa's wall,

although it is sometimes attributed to her.

The last two lines in this "final analysis" version trouble me, because they can be read in a way that is inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus, the life of Mother Teresa, and the message of the Paradoxical Commandments themselves.

The statement that "it was never between you and them anyway" seems to justify giving up on, or ignoring, or discounting other people.

That is what Jesus told us we should not do. Jesus said that there are two great commandments-to love God, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

So in the final analysis, it is between you and God, but it is also between you and "them."

And when it comes to them, Jesus made it clear that we have to love people and help people anyway.

We can't give up on them or ignore them or write them off.

That is the point of the Paradoxical Commandments as well-we find meaning when we love and help people, no matter who they may be, or how difficult they may be.

We find meaning by loving and helping them anyway."

👍✌️👍

[gmkb]

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@MaggieMack wrote:

The following is the version credited to Mother Teresa. I have always favored hers:

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.

Her version is kinder, less strident, more life oriented, less business oriented. I absolutely love her final line.

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Yes, agree.  The language in this one is more acceptable, much kinder.

[newziesuzie]

This made me think,

it must be strange to write something

that gets worldwide notice 

and then gets altered and attributed to other

people.  The internet probably made

that happen even more lol.

Thanks for the posts!

👍😊👍

[MaggieMack]

---

@newziesuzie wrote:

This made me think,

it must be strange to write something

that gets worldwide notice 

and then gets altered and attributed to other

people.  The internet probably made

that happen even more lol.

Thanks for the posts!

👍😊👍

---

Hi, @newziesuzie, I've seen other versions, too. I think it is a shame that any version doesn't cite Keith's as the inspiration. It all started with his. 

About the the last line of MT's, my understanding is that if it is right between you and God, it cannot help but be right between you and your fellow man. God's love flowing through you to them and all. 

[newziesuzie]

@MaggieMack❤️