I recall an old Sufi story of a good man who was granted one wish by God. The man said he would like to go about doing good without knowing about it. God granted his wish. And then God decided that it was such a good idea, he would grant that wish to all human beings. And so it has been to this day.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Doing good anonymously is a profound wish, and humanity collectively lives this out by acting kindly without always realizing it.
- In plain terms
- People often do good deeds without knowing it, because everyone was granted this wish.
- What can you take from it?
- Anonymous kindness benefits the world more than seeking credit.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How often do you do good without knowing?
- What if everyone knew their good deeds?
Another view
Not all anonymous actions are inherently good.
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