If—

"If—" is a famous poem written by the English poet Rudyard Kipling. He lived from 1865 to 1936 and wrote this poem around the year 1895. The poem was a special gift to honor a man named Leander Starr Jameson.

The poem was first shared in a book called Rewards and Fairies in 1910. It is written as advice from a father to his son, John. It shows the values that were important during the Victorian era, a time when many stories and poems taught lessons about good behavior and doing what is right.

People still read "If—" today because it teaches important lessons about being strong, kind, and honest. It is one of Kipling’s most remembered poems and is often shared with young people to help guide them.

Publication

"If—" first appeared in the chapter called "Brother Square Toes" in the book Rewards and Fairies. This book, published in 1910, contains poetry and short stories by Rudyard Kipling.

Kipling said in his autobiography, published after he passed away in 1937, that he was inspired by Leander Starr Jameson. Jameson led a failed attempt in 1895-96, known as the Jameson Raid, against the South African Republic. This event made tensions worse between the United Kingdom and the Boers, and later led to the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902.

Text

If you can keep your head when others are losing theirs,
And trust yourself even when no one else does,
If you can wait without growing weary,
And not tell lies, nor hate even when lied about or hated,
And stay humble, not acting too wise:

If you can dream big but not let dreams control you,
If you can think clearly without letting thoughts guide every step,
If you can face both success and failure
And treat them the same:
If you can listen to truths you’ve spoken
Twisted by others to trap the unwise,
Or see what you’ve worked for broken,
And still rebuild with what you have:

If you can risk everything you’ve gained
And lose it all, then start again,
And never speak of your loss:
If you can keep going even when you feel weak,
And hold on just because you choose to:

If you can speak with many and stay true,
Or talk with leaders and still stay kind,
If neither enemies nor friends can change you,
And you value everyone but don’t depend on anyone too much:
If you can use every moment well,
Then the world is yours, and more—you’ll be a true leader, my son!

Reception

"If—" is a famous poem that shows Victorian-era ideas about staying calm and strong. Many people in Britain love this poem, and it has been copied and shared a lot.

The poem has been translated into many languages and printed on different items. It is displayed in places like schools, sports clubs, and even on the ground in a town in Britain. Famous people like boxer Muhammad Ali kept the poem with them for guidance.