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 imposters 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 thay 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!

- Rudyard Kipling

Awesome poem! I had memorized this poem when I was in the seventh grade, most probably without a clue of what it meant. :)

Thanks for posting it.

You're welcome, Guest4. Maybe now you may have a whole new perspective on how to be a Man. No, a better Man!

Thanx for posting this.... I found some solace in those lines!

if you scratch you crotch and reclessly burp

if you snatch a beer and slop on a couch

if fart out loud and love your brand

if youre thinking of sex and women

as much as your  can

thats no doubt my friend

   your'e a MAN

beat that ....thank you thankyou very much

"If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools" ...   this line is dedicated to those fools/punks

Thank you Justhuman. That was well spoken and to the point.

tis too hard to live by that values of that poem by Rudyard Kipling...though its touching and good to read.........a common man rather hang himself than going through all those pain and suffering to be a man...............I like my poem better.SIMPLE  and justhuman and heartbeat.........comparing me to a fool shows a lack of humor in you guys part. As a wise man once said......SMILE........ coz smile is the curve in your face that sets things right...............no offense meant.