Bhagavad Gita

Do the work, let go of the results

Earliest we can find

This is the earliest source we can find for the idea. Said again in 4 books on our list: Swami Vivekananda, Karma-Yoga (1896), M. K. Gandhi, Anasakti Yoga (1929), Steven Pressfield, The War of Art (2002) and James Clear, Atomic Habits (2018).

1. “But thou, want not! ask not! Find full reward Of doing right in right! Let right deeds be Thy motive, not the fruit which comes from them.”