Most truth, in my experience, tends to reside in paradox ... or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that all truths contain some degree of paradox within them. With this in mind, the Paradoxical Commandments*:
**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 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.
(*Often attributed to Mother Theresa or Anonymous, actually written by Kent M. Keith.)
(**Ironically, this would be the only one that I, personally, consider optional... Again: Me, bitter? No.)
