Rudyard Kipling – If
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!
About the Author
Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) was
a British author and poet, renowned for his works set in British India, where
he spent a significant portion of his early life. Kipling's literary
contributions include short stories, novels, and poems that reflect his deep
understanding of British and Indian cultures, and his keen observations
of human nature. Some of his most famous works include "The Jungle
Book," "Kim," and the poem "Gunga Din." Kipling was
awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1907, making him the first
English-language writer to receive the honour and the youngest recipient to
date.
Summary
The poem "If—,"
written in 1895 and published in 1910 in Kipling's collection "Rewards and
Fairies," is one of his most celebrated works. It is a didactic poem,
offering advice on how to live a virtuous and resilient life. Structured as a
series of conditional statements, the poem outlines the qualities that
constitute mature manhood and personal integrity. Each stanza presents
challenges and virtues, culminating in the powerful assertion that mastering
these traits will lead to a fulfilling and successful life. The poem is often
regarded as a timeless guide to stoicism, perseverance, and ethical behaviour,
resonating with readers across generations.
Poem
Comprehension
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:
1. How
should you treat Triumph and Disaster?
Triumph and Disaster should be treated
just the same. The poet refers to both as "impostors," suggesting that they are not as significant or real as they seem.
2. Why
do knaves twist the truth?
Knaves, or deceitful people, twist the
truth to manipulate and deceive others. They distort the truth to create traps
for fools. They exploit others' ignorance or gullibility for their own
gain.
3. What
does the poet suggest to do when you’re completely broken?
The poet suggests that even when faced
with the destruction of what you have worked hard for, you should have the
resilience to pick yourself up and start over, even if the tools or resources
you have left are old and depleted.
Paragraph
1. Enumerate
the challenges one encounters in life.
Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—"
enumerates various challenges and virtues one must navigate and cultivate to
achieve maturity and wisdom. It begins by emphasizing the importance of
maintaining composure and self-trust even when others are losing control and
doubting you. The poem advises patience, integrity, and humility, suggesting
that one should avoid lies and hatred despite being lied about or hated.
Kipling stresses the balance between dreaming and practicality, urging that
dreams should not dominate nor thoughts be the ultimate aim. He highlights the
need to treat both success (Triumph) and failure (Disaster) equally, viewing
them as deceptive.
The poem acknowledges that the truth may be
twisted by deceitful people and that cherished efforts might be broken, yet one
must have the resilience to rebuild. Risk-taking and the ability to start over
without complaint are praised, as is the endurance of the heart, nerve, and
willpower even in the face of exhaustion. Kipling also underscores the importance
of maintaining virtue amidst social interactions, whether with crowds or kings,
and being emotionally resilient so that neither foes nor friends can deeply
hurt you. The poem outlines a comprehensive guide to personal development and
resilience. By mastering these challenges, Kipling suggests one can achieve
true maturity and the fulfilment of being a complete, virtuous individual.
2. List
down the virtues mentioned by the poet essential for a successful life.
Rudyard Kipling's poem "If—"
outlines several virtues essential for a successful life.
· Composure:
Keeping calm under pressure.
· Self-Trust:
Believing in oneself while considering others' doubts.
· Patience:
Waiting without becoming weary.
· Integrity:
Staying honest and not dealing with lies.
· Forgiveness:
Not giving in to hatred despite being hated.
· Humility:
Avoiding arrogance or self-importance.
· Balanced
Perspective: Treating success and failure equally.
· Resilience:
Rebuilding from broken efforts and enduring misrepresentation.
· Courage:
Taking risks and starting over without complaint.
· Endurance:
Continuing despite physical and mental exhaustion.
· Virtue
in Social Interactions: Maintaining moral integrity with both common people and
those in power.
· Emotional
Resilience: Being unaffected by the actions of friends and foes.
· Effective
Time Management: Making the most of every moment.
3. Summarise
the advice of Kipling to become a complete man.
Rudyard
Kipling's poem "If—" offers advice on how to become a mature and
successful person. It suggests staying calm when others panic, believing in
yourself while understanding others' doubts, and being patient. The poem
advises being honest even when lied about and avoiding hatred even when hated.
It encourages dreaming and thinking without being controlled by dreams or
thoughts, and treating success and failure equally. Kipling emphasizes
rebuilding after setbacks and taking risks without complaining about losses. He
stresses the importance of continuing to strive even when exhausted,
maintaining integrity with all people, and valuing everyone equally. Finally,
the poem advises making the most of every moment. By mastering these qualities,
Kipling concludes, one will become a complete and admirable person.
Essay
1.
Analyse how Kipling insists on
self-restraint and self-awareness in “if”.
Rudyard
Kipling's poem "If—" emphasizes the virtues of self-restraint and
self-awareness as critical components of maturity and success. Kipling suggests
that maintaining calm and not reacting impulsively in times of crisis
demonstrates significant self-restraint. "If you can wait and not be tired
by waiting" The virtue of patience is highlighted here as a form of
self-restraint, emphasizing the importance of enduring difficulties without
becoming frustrated or giving up. Kipling advises against responding to
dishonesty or hatred with similar negative behaviours. This demonstrates
self-restraint in maintaining one’s integrity and morality despite provocation.
"And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise" These lines warn
against becoming conceited or overly proud, encouraging humility and
self-restraint in one's demeanour and speech.
Kipling
emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in maintaining a balance between
aspirations and practical reality. One should dream and think but not be
consumed or controlled by them.
"If
you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And
treat those two impostors just the same"
By
referring to success and failure as "impostors," Kipling underscores
the need for self-awareness in recognizing that both are transient and
deceptive, and neither should dominate one’s sense of self. The ability to
endure misrepresentation and setbacks with the awareness that these are part of
life, and then rebuilding with resilience, reflects profound self-awareness and
control.
"If neither
foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count
with you, but none too much"
Self-awareness
is necessary to maintain emotional stability and to value relationships
appropriately, without letting them unduly influence one’s inner equilibrium. Being
aware of the importance of time and making the most of every moment requires a
high level of self-awareness and discipline. Through composure, patience,
emotional resilience, humility, and a balanced perspective on success and
failure, Kipling underscores the importance of mastering oneself as the path to
true maturity and success.
2.
Discuss the contribution of the qualities
to one’s personality development and ethical conduct.
Rudyard Kipling’s poem "If—"
offers a fatherly advice to his son about the virtues essential for personal
growth and success. It presents a series of conditional statements, each
beginning with "If," followed by the outcomes of possessing these
virtues. The poem emphasizes the importance of maintaining composure and
patience in difficult situations, trusting oneself while considering others’
doubts, and staying truthful in the face of deceit. Humility is also stressed,
cautioning against arrogance and the temptation to appear too wise or good.
Kipling advocates for a balanced approach
to dreams and thoughts, urging the reader not to let ambitions or ideas
dominate their lives. He highlights the significance of treating both success
and failure with equanimity, acknowledging their transient nature. Resilience
is another key theme, encouraging the reader to endure setbacks and rebuild
from adversity. The poem also champions risk-taking and determination, pushing
one to persist even when faced with exhaustion or setbacks.
Socially, Kipling advises maintaining
moral integrity in all interactions, whether with common people or those in
positions of power. He stresses the importance of emotional strength, advising
against being swayed by the opinions of friends or foes. Lastly, the poem
underscores the value of making the most of every moment, and using time wisely to
achieve personal goals and fulfilment.
In essence, Kipling’s "If—"
serves as a comprehensive guide to personal development, emphasizing virtues
such as composure, patience, integrity, humility, balance, resilience,
risk-taking, determination, social virtue, emotional strength, and effective
time management. By embodying these qualities, one can navigate life’s
challenges with grace and achieve true maturity and success.
