Here is MY explanation of the poem. The words that are in black is part of the poem, and the words in red describe what I think the phrase ABOVE means.
If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can still have your inner voice, the voice inside of you, telling you to hang on, while everyone is blaming things on you.
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
Self-explanatory
But make allowance for their doubting too;
Think: Why are they thinking this way, am I doing something wrong?
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Be patient
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
You're being lied about, people are spreading rumors about you, but you don't tell any lies/rumors.
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
People hate you, but you don't hate them
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
Don't be too good of a 'goody-good too shoos'
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
Yes, you can dream, but don't ALWAYS dream. Live up to reality
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
Let your mind run soar free, but don't always count on your thoughts to come true.
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
Don't be really happy when something happens, and don't be too sad when disaster strikes.
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
What you say should be the truth.
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
But a little sarcasm won't hurt.
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
Self-explanatory
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
Don't give up, get up from where you fell
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
Don't give up on the one thing you REALLY think is important to you
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
But be able to take risks.
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
When it breaks, start again.
And never breath a word about your loss;
And yet, don't say anything about your loss
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
Force yourself to work hard
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
So you will still benefit from them long after you have completed it.
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Don't give up. Even when you feel like there is nothing in your life that is worth it.
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
Once again, don't give up.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Hang out with people that are just like you, but have something have your own independent strength.
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
Or hang out with people, which seem to be more ‘popular/rich’ than you are, and still be true to yourself.
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
No enemy can hurt you. If you come to think of it, the point of view from the people who are closest to you matter the most. But no matter how harsh or bad they say, it won't hurt you.
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If everyone counts on you, but you don't give pressure to yourself.
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
Forgive people, even though it may seem impossible at the moment
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
But still think whether it is right or wrong.
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!
You'll be 'perfect'
Rudyard Kipling
Once again, the comments in RED are my opinions on what I think the phrase meant. Of course, you may have a different idea, you can always comment on it (: and tell me what you think. Yeah yeah, I know, it is really hard to do all that, but I adivise you to try. There's no harm in trying.
To me, the three hardest things in this poem that I should keep in mind are:
1)trust yourself when all men doubt you
2)meet with triumph and disaster, and treat those two imposters just the same
3)neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
What's your's?
< Rudyard Kipling
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