If ... By Rudyard Kipling

If ...

By Rudyard Kipling

If your life’s work look shattered

And without a single word, start it all again;

Or lose in one day the gain of a hundred

Without a gesture or a sigh...

If you can be loving without being madly in love,

If you get to be strong while remaining tender,

And feeling hated, without hating yourself,

Fight and defend yourself...

If you can bear rogues to distort your words

For thus  excite the fools

And hear how  their false tongues slander you

Without  yourself   lying ...

If you can follow even if you are worthy popular;

if you manage to be people and give advice to the kings;

and love all your friends like a brother

without neither of them absorbs  you…

If you know how to meditate, observe, learn,

Without ever becoming destructive or skeptic;

Dream, but not let the dream control you;

Think, without being just a thinker...

If you can be severe without anger;

If you can be bold without sin recklessly;

If you can be good and you manage to be wise

Without being pedantic or moralistic...

If you reach the victory after defeat

And you welcome with equal calm these two lies;

If you can keep your courage, your head,

When others loose it ...

Then Kings, Gods, Lucky and Victory

Will be forever your most submissive slaves

And, what is more important that the Glory and the Kings:

You’ll be a human being, my friend.