Kent M. Keith

Kent M. Keith is an American author and educator best known for his inspirational and widely circulated poem/manifesto titled "The Paradoxical Commandments." He was born on September 1, 1949, in New York, USA.

Kent M. Keith's most notable contribution is the creation of "The Paradoxical Commandments," which he wrote in 1968 when he was just 19 years old. The Commandments are a set of guidelines for ethical behavior and principled leadership. They emphasize the importance of doing what is right, even in the face of adversity, criticism, and ingratitude. The central idea is to encourage people to maintain their integrity and values, even when it seems challenging or unrewarding.

Here are the original Paradoxical Commandments, as written 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.

These commandments have resonated with people around the world and have been widely quoted and adopted by individuals, organizations, and leaders as a source of inspiration and guidance. They have been the basis for various books, speeches, and motivational materials, spreading the message of resilience, compassion, and ethical behavior in the face of adversity.

The Paradoxical Commandments are a set of guidelines for ethical behavior and principled leadership written by Kent M. Keith in 1968. They emphasize the importance of doing what is right and maintaining one's integrity, even in challenging or unrewarding circumstances. The commandments are characterized by their paradoxical nature, as they acknowledge that people may not always respond positively to acts of kindness and goodness. Despite this, they encourage individuals to persist in doing good and living by their principles. The Paradoxical Commandments have resonated with people worldwide and are often quoted as a source of inspiration and guidance in various personal, professional, and leadership contexts.

Discover Kent M. Keith's Paradoxical Commandments—a timeless guide to ethical living. Learn about his inspiring contributions to principled leadership.

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