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About this quote

What does it mean?
Mother Teresa highlights the irony that dedicated workers often face ingratitude yet become resilient.
In plain terms
We work hard with little support but learn to do anything.
What can you take from it?
Enduring hardship with little reward builds unmatched capability.

Where it applies

  • volunteer work
  • underfunded projects
  • caregiving

Putting it to work

  • persist despite lack of recognition
  • develop resourcefulness

Questions to consider

  • Is gratitude necessary for good work?
  • How do you stay motivated without thanks?

Another view

The tone assumes suffering is necessary for qualification which may discourage workers.

More from Agnes Gonxha (Mother Teresa) Bojaxhi

  1. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come.We have only today. Let us begin.

    Permalink to quote #28
  2. Alternately: We the willing, led by the unknowing, have done so much, with so little, for so long, that we are now qualified to make anything out of nothing.

    Permalink to quote #30
  3. When I was crossing into Gaza, I was asked at the checkpost whether I was carrying any weapons. I replied: Oh yes, my prayer books.

    Permalink to quote #27

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