“Infinite striving to be the best is man's duty it is its own reward. Everything else is in God's hands.”
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Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to Gandhi's letters (appears in Selected Letters/Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi archives); no specific dated letter/recipient confirmed.
About this quote
The reward this points to isn't the trophy but the striving itself — the effort is what's actually yours to give, and it pays out in who you become regardless of how things land. Results depend on a hundred factors beyond your reach, so tying your peace to them is a losing bet; the work is the part you own.
When to use it
- A musician practices for the love of getting better, not knowing if the audition will go her way.
- A salesperson focuses on honest, thorough calls and lets the monthly numbers fall where they may.
- A gardener tends the soil carefully and accepts that weather will decide much of the harvest.