Kloge ord

 

 

If

 

If you can keep your head

when all about you are loosing theirs

and blaming it on you

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

and 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 have spoken

twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools

or see the things you gave your life to broken

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 loose and start again at your beginnings

and never breath a word about your loss

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

to hold 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 to crowds and keep your virtue

or walk with kings – nor lose your common touch

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you

If all men count with you – but none too much

If you can hold the unforgiving minute

of sixty seconds’ worth of distance run

yours is the world and every thing that is in it

and –   which is more – you will be a Man, my son.

 

 

Tilbage