You, then are a Man!

If  you can see your life’s work destroyed  And without saying a word start rebuilding, If you can lose all your winnings Without even a sigh;  If you can love without becoming love’s fool, If you can be strong and still be tender,
If you can feel hate without hating in return, But fight and defend yourself; 
If you can listen to lies spoken by villains to excite the foolish,  And lies spoken about you without lying yourself; If you can become popular yet retain your dignity, If you can be one of the people while counseling kings,  And if you can love your fellow man like a brother  Without making anyone special; If you can meditate, observe and understand Without being skeptical or destructive; If you can dream but not make dreams your master, Think without just being a thinker;  If you can be hard without becoming enraged, Brave without being imprudent, If you can be good and wise  Without being a moralist or a pendant; if you can experience triumph after defeat And accept these two false prophets with the same regard, When others lose it; Then Kings, God, Luck and Victory Will always be your faithful servants.You will be a man, my son!

R. KIPLING - Play On Playa

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