If— If—
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BY R U D Y A R D KIPLING BY R U D Y A R D KIPLING
(‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and (‘Brother Square-Toes’—Rewards and
Fairies) Fairies)
If you can keep your head when all about you If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too; But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating, Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise: And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your If you can dream—and not make dreams your
master; master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your If you can think—and not make thoughts your
aim; aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same; And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools: And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss; And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone, To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’ Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common
touch, touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much; If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run, With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son! And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
