We have all felt it. That heavy, sinking feeling in your chest when you pour your heart into something-a kindness, a project, a relationship-and it goes completely unnoticed. Or worse, it’s met with criticism or indifference.
It’s exhausting. You might find yourself asking, “Why am I even trying? Does this even matter?”
If you are feeling this way right now, take a deep breath. You aren’t alone. In fact, one of the most compassionate figures in history understood this struggle intimately. The concept behind Mother Teresa quotes do it anyway isn’t just about reading nice words; it’s about a radical kind of courage. It is the courage to stay soft in a hard world and to keep giving even when the world forgets to say thank you.
This collection focuses on the spirit of perseverance. Here, we will look at the famous poem that inspired this philosophy, followed by 17 numbered quotes that will help you find the strength to keep going.
The Story Behind “Do It Anyway”
Before we look at the specific quotes, we need to understand the anchor of this philosophy. On the wall of Shishu Bhavan, the children’s home in Calcutta where Mother Teresa worked, hung a version of the “Paradoxical Commandments.”
While originally written by Kent M. Keith, these words became synonymous with Mother Teresa because they perfectly captured her life’s mission. She didn’t serve the poor because it was glamorous or because she received constant praise. She did it because her call to love was louder than the world’s indifference.
Here is the poem that started it all:
The Do It Anyway Poem
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.
That final line is the key. It shifts our focus from the audience to the intent.
17 Heartfelt Quotes That Will Strengthen Your Spirit
The poem above sets the stage, but Mother Teresa had much more to say about resilience, love, and the quiet power of perseverance. Below are 17 distinct quotes that expand on this “Do It Anyway” spirit, organized to help you find exactly the encouragement you need today.
The Power of Small Things
Sometimes we freeze up because we think our contribution is too small to count. These quotes remind us that size doesn’t matter-love does.
1. “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.”
It is easy to get paralyzed by the scale of problems in the world or even in our own families. We think we need to be heroes. But this quote takes the pressure off. You don’t need to save the world today. You just need to cook dinner with love, listen to a friend with love, or do your work with love.
2. “If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed just one.”
When you look at the news, it feels overwhelming. This wisdom brings it back to the manageable. Do not worry about the statistics; worry about the person standing right in front of you.
3. “To be faithful in little things is a great thing.”
We often mistake “success” for bigness-more money, more followers, more recognition. But faithfulness is quiet. Showing up every day, keeping your promises, and doing the invisible work is where real character lives.
4. “Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”
This is the ultimate call to action. It’s tempting to wait for permission or for someone else to fix the problem. This quote challenges us to take personal responsibility. If you see a need, fill it.
5. “Work without love is slavery.”
If you are feeling burnt out, check your motivation. Are you doing it out of obligation, guilt, or the need for approval? When we shift our focus back to love, even the hardest tasks become lighter.
Compassion in Everyday Deeds
If you are looking for quotes about kindness that go beyond the surface, these speak to the deep connection we form when we truly see others.
6. “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.”
Proximity matters. We often try to help people far away while ignoring the difficult relationships in our own homes. Start there. It is often harder, but it matters more.
7. “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
You might never know the impact of a simple compliment or a gentle “I see you.” You might say it and forget it in five minutes, but the person who heard it might carry it for a lifetime.
8. “Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier.”
This is a beautiful standard for social interaction. Imagine if we entered every conversation with the goal of leaving the other person lighter than we found them.
9. “Not handouts, but rather hands held.”
True charity isn’t just giving money or resources; it is giving presence. It is easy to write a check. It is much harder to sit with someone in their pain and hold their hand. That connection is what heals.
Humility, Faith & Perseverance
When the road gets rocky and you want to quit, these inspirational quotes offer a spiritual anchor.
10. “God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.”
For perfectionists, this is a massive relief. The outcome isn’t actually your business. Your business is the effort, the intention, and the heart you put into it. If it fails, you haven’t failed-because you tried.
11. “Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.”
We often stop ourselves because we feel inadequate. We focus on our flaws. This reminds us that our potential isn’t limited by our weaknesses, but expanded by our trust.
12. “If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are.”
This is one of the most freeing Mother Teresa wisdom nuggets. If you know your own value, compliments won’t give you a big head, and insults won’t break your heart. You are grounded in truth.
13. “A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves.”
This is the hard truth. Real love isn’t always fluffy and comfortable. Sometimes, doing the right thing hurts. It costs us time, money, or ego. But that “cost” is what makes it valuable.
Joy, Peace & The Cure for Loneliness
Why do we do it anyway? Because ultimately, living this way brings a peace that the world cannot give.
14. “Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”
A sour-faced saint never inspired anyone. Joy is magnetic. When you maintain your joy despite your circumstances, you become a beacon of hope for everyone watching.
15. “Whenever you share love with others, you’ll notice the peace that comes to you and to them.”
This is the secret: kindness is selfish in the best possible way. When you give love, you receive peace. It is an immediate return on investment.
16. “One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody.”
This highlights why connection is so vital. Physical poverty is terrible, but emotional poverty-loneliness-is a different kind of starvation. We can cure this for each other simply by paying attention.
17. “The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
You can bake bread in an hour. healing a heart takes a lifetime. This quote reminds us to be patient with people who are acting out; they are often just starving for love.
Living the “Do It Anyway” Philosophy Daily
Reading these quotes is one thing; living them is another. How do we take these powerful quotes that will change your perspective and apply them to a Tuesday morning when the coffee spills and the boss is angry?
It starts with reframing your “why.”
When you feel discouraged because no one noticed your hard work, stop and ask yourself: “Who did I do this for?” If the answer was “for them to like me,” you will always be vulnerable to pain. If the answer is “because this is who I am,” you are safe.
Try this simple practice:
When you encounter a difficult person today-someone rude in traffic, a dismissive family member, or a critical coworker-pause. Take a breath. Whisper to yourself, “Be kind anyway.” Do it not because they deserve it, but because your kindness belongs to you, and you choose not to let their behavior change your character.
For those moments when everything feels impossible, having a collection of uplifting quotes for a hard time can be a lifesaver. Keep these words on your phone or written on a sticky note at your desk. They serve as gentle reminders that your labor is not in vain.
Carrying the Message Forward
The beauty of Mother Teresa’s wisdom is that it is meant to be shared. If you know someone who is struggling-maybe a parent feeling unappreciated, a teacher dealing with difficult students, or a friend going through a breakup-send them one of these quotes.
You don’t need a grand gesture. Text them quote #10 and say, “I see you trying, and that’s enough.” Or write quote #1 on a card. As we learned from the list above, quotes about kindness and compassion have endless echoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did Mother Teresa actually write the “Do It Anyway” poem?
A: No, she didn’t write the original text. The “Paradoxical Commandments” were written by Kent M. Keith in 1968. However, Mother Teresa had a version of them displayed on the wall of her children’s home in Calcutta, and she lived by them so faithfully that they became deeply associated with her philosophy.
Q: What is the main message of the “Do It Anyway” quotes?
A: The core message is that our actions-kindness, honesty, and hard work-should not depend on how others react to them. We should do good because it is the right thing to do and because it aligns with our relationship with God or our inner values, regardless of external validation.
Q: How can I apply these quotes when I feel burnt out?
A: Start small. Focus on the quotes about “small things with great love.” Release the pressure to fix everything and focus on being kind to just the person in front of you. Burnout often comes from trying to control outcomes; these quotes remind us to focus only on the effort.
Q: Are there short Mother Teresa quotes suitable for a card or social media?
A: Absolutely. Quotes like “Be kind anyway,” “Work without love is slavery,” and “If you can’t feed a hundred people, feed just one” are short, impactful, and perfect for sharing in small spaces.
The Revolution Begins With You
In the end, Mother Teresa reminds us of something we desperately need to hear: your kindness matters not because the world will applaud it, but because you will know it was true. And that inner knowing-that alignment between your actions and your values-is everything.
The world might not change overnight because you chose to be kind to a rude cashier. But you will change. You will become softer, stronger, and more resilient. And that is a victory worth celebrating.
So, when the world is unreasonable? Forgive anyway. When your best isn’t enough? Give it anyway. Because in the final analysis, the love you put into the world is never wasted. It always finds its way back to you.
