IF by Rudyard Kipling (A Life Changing Poem)

Rudyard Kipling was a prolific poet, novelist and journalist and one of the most well-known Victorian writers of his time. In 1907, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature for his great body of work which included 'The Jungle Book' and his enduring poetic masterpiece 'If'.

In perhaps one of the most inspirational poems ever written, Kipling outlines for his son the behaviours and attitudes it takes to become a man, advising his son about how to perceive the world and life's challenges so that he can both learn from his experiences and resolutely overcome barriers.

This poem is one of our favourites and we hope you find our rendition of it worthy of the words.

We worked with the following artists to produce this reading:

Exclusive voice-over by Shane Morris
Score by MusicBed

[rickjensen]

The two things I remember the most mom told me; nothing ever goes the way you planned it and give me the flowers now, not on my grave.

[nishantintouch]

Success and disaster..
"If you can treat those two imposters just the same.."
Brilliant.

[TheOllyj]

My grandads favourite poem, I read it for him at his funeral. Hardest but most rewarding thing I've ever done

[bfuller]

My dad gave me this poem at 15, I’m now 31 and without it things could’ve been very different. He’s not here anymore but the lessons he taught live on. Every man needs to hear this

[mroctavio]

I just wanted to say that this poem appeared on my feed the day I was planning the route of the coward, the loss of my own hope in myself, and now I can stop thinking about it on every second I live, I stopped drinking, stopped gaming, I said no more to my addictions.
I'm studying, trying, fighting for my own place. And I won't give up I promise, but whoever runs this channel on YouTube; I just wanted to thank you.
I'll for sure will never meet you and maybe this message you'll never read, but to me you're important now, and probably in years to come. You saved my life and my heart is at peace, because I am now facing my own defeat with my head up, and I'm not wearing a crown for doing so.
To you, sir or madam, thank you.

Edit - Jan 12:
Hello everyone, I was surely not expecting my comment to gather so much attention, but I feel that I should share that I am doing way better than when I wrote this original post. I put effort into my studying, and I managed to get a scholarship, I placed effort in my body, and now I am training daily, I am not drinking at all and I wake up with energy to face off the marvel that it's a day. As Kipling will say "fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds of distance run". I may not be doing the whole sixty but it's way better than what I were two months ago, so to whoever reads this, please, I know you don't even know me, but don't give up, life has its own beauty but it for sure doesn't come in a silver plate. I hope you can at least give it another chance with a different perspective.
And thank you everyone for your kind words.

August-11:
Just to keep you posted on how life under a new light can be blissful, what looked grim now looks grey and what looked grey now has light by itself. Be thankful for being here, despite all, you're alive, you're breathing and life can be enjoyed, YOU WILL FALL, TRIP, STUMBLE, that's a FACT, but the important thing is WHAT YOU DO after hitting the ground with your face.
GET UP and keep moving, stop stagnation.
I kept doing that, standing up, now I have a job, I live by myself, my own rules, I have shifted my life 180 degrees and 3 stories higher (my new apt is on the third floor, yes it's a rental but IT'S MY FLOOR), it's incredible what a daily routine and dedication to achieve your own goals can bring.

Don't give up, I didn't, you can't, you're valuable.

Stay safe, and be happy.

Oct, 2023.
This life is good, don't give up. I came across this video again because I felt I owed it a second hearing. And I stumbled upon my old comment. I'm on a way better place now.

[ampersandtay]

I learned this 70 years ago, alas I've forgotten most. A most wonderful poem.

[Stoic_cat]

If you get recommended this video by YouTube, you have found a gem.

[s.a.adams-ford]

I recall my father quoting this when I was a child. A brilliant man quoting a brilliant man.

[ednaopl]

IF you felt goosebumps while listening to this
IF you understood each line
IF you felt empowered -
Then you are in a wonderful place.

[LoneWolf-cyvd]

"If" concentrates on patience more than anything. It's the key to success and getting through hardships.

[kevingbergiste]

This narrator has one of the most captivating voices I’ve ever heard

[DeeDeexo]

THE GREATEST POEM EVER
IF
"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 impostors 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 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 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!"

[kashishadwani]

"And never breathe a word about your loss "
Now this is something I'm going to take back with my soul for long ...

[RDayal-qrip]

This should be recited daily in schools so children learn to face challenges which grow with age.

[bucksteingold]

I have carried this poem in my wallet for over ten years now. God bless.

[sebdavies]

I read this poem at my father's funeral today, and this video really helped me practice and prepare for that moment. I've been reciting the words along with the reader whilst listening to this every morning the last couple of weeks, trying to get the right tempo and learn most of it off by heart. All went well when it was my time to stand up and do it myself, so thank you for this and your other videos which have helped me through difficult times.

[amanialsoquar]

Truthfully, there's nothing more soothing and desirable than a young man being called "My Son!" By a wise old man...

[cooldude]

I am in worst phase of my life, i am just 20 and stuck in cycle of failures . I start my every day with this poem . It shows me the path i need to walk on.

Edit - Finally a year after this comment and thank you for all your good wishes . I had a little win . I cleared one level of my exams after trying for 2 yrs and now i can start my articleship . Still love this poem very much.

[ginasilva]

"If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch..." 👌

[mz]

As an Arab poetry is an important part of our culture and for a long period of time I thought it`s impossible to find a poem in foreign language especially English, so this poem will be in my head whenever I think about a poem in English .