“Do It Anyway” is one of my favorite quotes. Initially titled The Paradoxical Commandments, it has several variants from the original. The most notable version is “Do It Anyway” by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I often refer to it as “Do Good Anyway!”
Dr. Kent M. Keith, the original author, wrote The Paradoxical Commandments as part of a book published in 1968 by Harvard Student Agencies titled The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council.
The confusion began when Lucinda Vardey compiled a book for Mother Teresa. While visiting Calcutta, India, Vardey saw the poem posted on a wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children. When she published the book titled “A Simple Path,” she referenced the poem without proper credit. In error, readers of the book gave Mother Teresa credit instead of Dr. Keith. Because of the notoriety of Mother Teresa, the poem in the book spread quickly around the world credited to her. Today, very few realize the origination of the commandments “Do It Anyway” date back to Dr. Keith in 1968.
The bottom line is that, in both the original and later versions, the poem’s meaning remains—No matter what people do, we must do the right thing. Just do good anyway!
The Paradoxical Commandments
by Dr. Kent 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.
“Do It Anyway”
version credited to Mother Teresa
Note the slight changes made in this version with additions and deletions from Dr. Keith’s original.
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.