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;
1/8
#if #rudyardkipling
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:
2/8
#if #rudyardkipling
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;
3/8
#if #rudyardkipling
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:
4/8
#if #rudyardkipling
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;
5/8
#if #rudyardkipling
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!’
6/8
#if #rudyardkipling
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count on you, but none too much;
7/8
#if #rudyardkipling
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!
8/8
#if #rudyardkipling