Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse of selfish, ulterior motives'

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you'

Be honest and frank anyway.

When 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.

 

Read by Ida Tomshinsky at IFAC Reunion: 50th Anniversary

at The Porter's Mansion in Miami Beach, FL

on June 20, 2015