IF By Rudyard Kipling
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 dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a 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 make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe 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!
Summary:
Meaning:
1st Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader to make themselves strong enough to be able to take responsibility for their actions and not to blame it on others. You should have enough confidence to believe in yourself but leave enough room for other peoples opinions. Don't let people be mean to you but don't ask for it by your actions either.
2nd Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader that dreaming and thinking is good, but don't let it control you. Be modest when you succeed and when something goes wrong be bold. Don't make things seem better just to win friends or impress people. Be resilient when important things in your life are no longer there.
3rd Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader to use all of his experience in his achievements and mistakes to take risks and aim higher. Never give up even if things go wrong just try again and be strong.
4th Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader that after they are successful they need to treat everyone the same and not change the person that they are. Keep your friends and loved ones. Don't let money change you. The world is your oyster.
Overall:
The poem 'IF' teaches you the paths to take to be respected and respect yourself.
Context Written And Why:
The poem 'IF' was written as a tribute to Leander Starr Jameson. He was highly involved in the Jameson raid.
Comment:
'IF' is an educational poem that is filled with truth about the world. At times it is a little complex but overall it is a very well thought through poem that would help you in life.
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 dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a 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 make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe 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!
Summary:
Meaning:
1st Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader to make themselves strong enough to be able to take responsibility for their actions and not to blame it on others. You should have enough confidence to believe in yourself but leave enough room for other peoples opinions. Don't let people be mean to you but don't ask for it by your actions either.
2nd Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader that dreaming and thinking is good, but don't let it control you. Be modest when you succeed and when something goes wrong be bold. Don't make things seem better just to win friends or impress people. Be resilient when important things in your life are no longer there.
3rd Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader to use all of his experience in his achievements and mistakes to take risks and aim higher. Never give up even if things go wrong just try again and be strong.
4th Paragraph:
The poet tells the reader that after they are successful they need to treat everyone the same and not change the person that they are. Keep your friends and loved ones. Don't let money change you. The world is your oyster.
Overall:
The poem 'IF' teaches you the paths to take to be respected and respect yourself.
Context Written And Why:
The poem 'IF' was written as a tribute to Leander Starr Jameson. He was highly involved in the Jameson raid.
Comment:
'IF' is an educational poem that is filled with truth about the world. At times it is a little complex but overall it is a very well thought through poem that would help you in life.