If

Motivation

If 

by Rudyard Kipling

IF

IF YOU CAN KEEP YOUR HEAD WHEN ALL ABOUT YOU

ARE LOSING THEIRS AND BLAMING  IT ON YOU,

IF YOU CAN TRUST YOURSELF WHEN ALL MEN DOUBT YOU

BUT MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR THEIR DOUBTING TOO,

IF YOU CAN WAIT AND NOT BE TIRED BY WAITING,

OR BEING LIED ABOUT, DON’T DEAL IN  LIES,

OR BEING HATED, DON’T GIVE WAY TO HATING,

AND YET DON’T LOOK TOO GOOD, 

NOR TALK TOO WISE:

IF YOU CAN DREAM - 

AND NOT MAKE YOUR DREAMS  YOUR MASTER,

IF YOU CAN THINK - 

AND NOT MAKE THOUGHTS YOUR AIM;

IF YOU CAN MEET WITH TRIUMPH AND DISASTER

AND TREAT THESE TWO IMPOSTORS JUST THE SAME;

IF YOU CAN BEAR TO HEAR THE TRUTH YOU’VE SPOKEN

TWISTED BY KNAVES TO MAKE TRAP FOR FOOLS,

OR WATCH THE THINGS YOU GAVE YOUR LIFE TO, BROKEN,

AND STOOP AND BUILD ‘EM UP WITH WORN-OUT TOOLS:

IF YOU CAN HEAP OF ALL YOUR WINNINGS

AND RISK IT ALL ON ONE TURN OF PITCH-AND-TOSS,

AND LOSE, AND START AGAIN AT YOUR BEGINNINGS

AND NEVER BREATH A WORD ABOUT YOUR LOSS;

IF YOU CAN FORCE YOUR HEART AND NERVE AND SINEW

TO SERVE YOUR TURN LONG AFTER THEY ARE GONE,

AND SO HOLD ON WHEN THERE IS NOTHING IN YOU

EXCEPT THE WILL WHICH SAYS TO THEM : ” HOLD ON ! ”

IF YOU CAN TALK WITH CROWDS AND KEEP YOUR VIRTUE,

OR WALK WITH  KINGS – NOR LOSE THE COMMON TOUCH,

IF NEITHER  FOES  NOR LOVING FRIENDS CAN HURT YOU;

IF ALL MEN COUNT WITH YOU, BUT NONE TOO MUCH

IF YOU CAN FILL THE UNFORGIVING MINUTE

WITH  SIXTY SECONDS’  WORTH  OF DISTANCE RUN,

YOURS IS THE EARTH  AND  EVERYTHING THAT’S IN  IT,

AND- WHICH IS MORE-   

YOU’LL BE A MAN, MY SON !