'If' by Rudyard Kipling
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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!
Editor 1 Interpretation
If by Rudyard Kipling: A Detailed Literary Criticism and Interpretation
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:
Oh, this is just fantastic! I mean, how can you not feel a rush of excitement reading those lines? Rudyard Kipling's "If" is one of those classic poems that never gets old, and the reason for that is quite simple: it speaks to the essential qualities that we all admire in a person. It's a poem about courage, resilience, and self-reliance, qualities that we all aspire to have in our lives.
But, of course, there's more to "If" than just a laundry list of admirable traits. Kipling's poem is a masterpiece of structure and language, and it's worth examining in detail to fully appreciate its greatness.
The Structure of "If"
First of all, let's talk about the structure of the poem. "If" is written in four stanzas of eight lines each, and it follows a strict ABAB rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a sense of order and symmetry, mirroring the order and discipline that it extols.
But there's more to the structure than just the rhyme scheme. Each stanza is also composed of two contrasting ideas, and the poem as a whole can be seen as a progression from one idea to the next. Let's take a closer look at each stanza.
Stanza One
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;
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It's about keeping your cool in the face of chaos, trusting your own judgment even when others doubt you, and being open-minded enough to consider the doubts of others.
Stanza Two
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:
The second stanza is about patience, honesty, and humility. It's about waiting for what you want without becoming frustrated, refusing to stoop to the level of those who lie about you or hate you, and avoiding the temptation to appear too good or too wise.
Stanza Three
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;
The third stanza is perhaps the most famous of the four. It's about the dangers of becoming too attached to your dreams or your thoughts, and of being able to handle both success and failure with equanimity.
Stanza Four
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:
The final stanza is about resilience and perseverance. It's about being able to handle the disappointment of seeing your words twisted by others, or of seeing the things you've worked hard for destroyed, and yet being able to pick yourself up and keep going.
The Language of "If"
But of course, a great poem is not just about structure. It's also about language, and Kipling's language in "If" is simple, direct, and powerful.
One of the most striking things about the poem is its use of parallelism. In each stanza, the first four lines present a set of conditions, and the next four lines present a resolution to those conditions. This creates a sense of balance and symmetry that reinforces the poem's themes of order and discipline.
The repetition of the word "if" throughout the poem also creates a sense of urgency and possibility. Each stanza presents a series of challenges, but each challenge is also an opportunity. It's as if Kipling is saying, "If you can do these things, then you can be truly great."
Another notable feature of Kipling's language is its use of vivid imagery. From the chaos of people losing their heads to the impostors of Triumph and Disaster, each stanza presents a powerful image that helps to reinforce the poem's themes.
The Interpretation of "If"
So, what is Kipling trying to say with "If"? At its core, the poem is a celebration of the qualities that make a person great. It's about the importance of being able to keep your cool in difficult situations, of being honest and humble, of being able to handle both success and failure, and of being resilient in the face of adversity.
But there's also a sense in which the poem is a warning. Kipling seems to be saying that these qualities are not easy to come by. They require discipline, hard work, and a willingness to face challenges head-on. And, perhaps most importantly, they require a willingness to be open-minded and to consider the doubts of others.
In a way, "If" is a call to action. It's saying that if you want to be truly great, you need to cultivate these qualities in yourself. And if you can do that, then you can truly be a master of your fate and a captain of your soul.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rudyard Kipling's "If" is a masterpiece of structure and language, and a celebration of the qualities that make a person great. It's a poem that speaks to the essential human values of courage, resilience, and self-reliance, and it does so in a way that is both powerful and memorable. Reading "If" is like receiving a pep talk from a wise and experienced mentor, and it's a poem that will continue to inspire and encourage generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
If you're looking for a poem that will inspire you to be the best version of yourself, then look no further than Rudyard Kipling's "If." This classic poem, first published in 1895, has stood the test of time and continues to be a source of motivation for people all over the world.
At its core, "If" is a poem about the qualities that make a person great. Kipling lays out a series of scenarios and challenges, and then offers advice on how to handle them with grace and dignity. The poem is written in second person, which makes it feel like Kipling is speaking directly to the reader, urging them to be their best self.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem:
"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;"
Here, Kipling is talking about the importance of staying calm and level-headed in the face of chaos. He acknowledges that there will be times when people doubt you, but he encourages the reader to trust themselves and not let the opinions of others sway them.
The second stanza is all about perseverance:
"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:"
Kipling is saying that it's important to be patient and not give up, even when things get tough. He also emphasizes the importance of honesty and not stooping to the level of those who lie or hate. He cautions against being too proud or boastful, as humility is an important quality to have.
The third stanza is about taking responsibility:
"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;"
Kipling is saying that it's important to have dreams and goals, but not to let them consume you. He encourages the reader to think critically and not get too caught up in their own thoughts. He also emphasizes the importance of treating success and failure with equal measure, as both are temporary and should not define a person.
The fourth stanza is about being a good person:
"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:"
Kipling is saying that it's important to be honest and truthful, even when others may twist your words for their own gain. He also emphasizes the importance of resilience and the ability to rebuild after something has been broken.
The fifth and final stanza is about living a fulfilling life:
"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!'"
Kipling is saying that it's important to take risks and not be afraid of failure. He encourages the reader to be resilient and to keep pushing forward, even when it seems like there's nothing left to give. He emphasizes the importance of having a strong will and the ability to persevere through difficult times.
Overall, "If" is a poem that encourages the reader to be their best self. Kipling lays out a series of challenges and offers advice on how to handle them with grace and dignity. The poem is timeless and continues to be a source of inspiration for people all over the world. If you're looking for a poem that will motivate you to be the best version of yourself, then "If" is the perfect choice.
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