|
If you can keep your head when all
about 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 walk 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 meat 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 trip for fools;
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
And stop and build them 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 an man my son.
|