“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 wornout 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!
Kipling’s “If”: A Legacy of Stoicism and Controversy
Rudyard Kipling’s iconic poem “If” has been praised as a timeless guide to resilience and condemned as an ode to outdated ideals. Its stanzas are packed with advice for navigating life’s challenges, focusing on self-mastery, unwavering resolve, and ultimately, the elusive ideal of becoming “a Man.”
Themes and Their Impact
- Stoicism and Self-Control: The poem urges emotional detachment in facing “Triumph and Disaster.” Is this strength, or a denial of healthy human feeling?
- Individualism: Lines like “If you can walk with Kings – nor lose the common touch” raise questions about ambition and humility. Can they truly coexist?
- Outdated Worldview? Critics argue the poem reflects imperialist, male-centric values. Does its message have a place in a modern, diverse world?
“If” as a Mirror
The poem’s power may lie less in offering universal answers, and more in making us confront our own beliefs:
- What qualities do you value most?: Do they align with Kipling’s vision, or clash with it?
- When is resilience healthy, and when is it harmful?: The poem pushes endurance, but is there a point where acceptance is wiser?
- Whose voices are missing?: “If” presents one perspective. What wisdom might be found in the experiences of women, marginalized groups, or those who reject its ideals of power?
Debating the Legacy of “If”
Whether you admire the poem’s message or find it problematic, there’s no denying its cultural impact. Quotes from “If” echo through speeches, self-help books, and even locker rooms. Why does this poem, of all things, continue to resonate?
Perhaps, it’s because the fundamental questions it raises about character, adversity, and what makes a worthwhile life are as relevant as ever, even if the answers we seek have changed profoundly since Kipling’s time.
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