Rudyard Kipling – If

 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.

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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.