I first found Dr. Kent Keith’s Paradoxical Commandments in 2002, and have carried them around with me.  I have looked at them from time to time as a source of inspiration when some particular challenge came along.  Recently I asked Dr. Keith if I could share them with you, because these days I believe we would all be well served to keep them top of mind.

THE PARADOXICAL COMMANDMENTS

By Kent M. Keith

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

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

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

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

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

6.  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

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

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

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

10.  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

The Paradoxical Commandments were written by Kent M. Keith as part of his book, The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council, published in 1968 by Harvard Student Agencies, Cambridge, Massachusetts.