If by Rudyard Kipling (read by Lex Fridman)

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This is a poem by Rudyard Kipling titled If. It is a father giving advice to his son.

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.

Writing music and poetry have been a part of my life for many years, along with science and martial arts. I've written a lot of songs, almost all of which no one has ever heard, including close friends. Me playing covers and reading this poem is a step toward it. My main passion is artificial intelligence (especially engineering of it into real-world systems) but guitar, piano, wrestling, jiu jitsu, and judo have helped me in that pursuit in fundamental ways that I hope to elucidate over time. If this is not your thing, please be patient and ignore it. But if you enjoy it, your support and love are always appreciated.

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If by Rudyard Kipling is a poem of advice from a father to his son that I return to often. I did a 4 hour podcast with my dad recently (not easy for me to release, but I eventually will), and am reminded that life is short & every moment of it should be lived well, with compassion, integrity, resilience, and love.

Writing music and poetry have been a part of my life for many years, along with science and martial arts. I've written a lot of songs, almost all of which no one has ever heard, including close friends. Me playing covers and reading this poem is a step toward it. My main passion is artificial intelligence (especially engineering of it into real-world systems) but guitar, piano, wrestling, jiu jitsu, and judo have helped me in that pursuit in fundamental ways that I hope to elucidate over time. If this is not your thing, please be patient and ignore it. But if you enjoy it, your support and love are always appreciated.

lexfridman
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Learned "If" when I was 10 yo for a poem recitation. Didn't completely understand/appreciate it back then. I come back to it every now and then and it still moves me. I'm 25 today and listening to you read it made my day. Thanks Lex.

chai
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I’m a Mom and just sent it to my two young men’s ❤

Beautiful!
Thank you Lex like always you’re of of a kind!

Georgetellme
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its the smiles lex has at certain points of the poem, makes you even happier

tommyLcarter
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My father past away this December. He was so strong in soul and brainpower, even he lost a business years ago and so many other bad things happen to him he always and never even ask help or even say something that for him is wrong. He always was creating and was trying to leave something important to his children. Amazing father with unconditional love to his children. He was my adviser and mentor and I always will love him. Amen! Imagine that, probably he, my father founded a technological solution to tackle heftiest cities issue and it will be qualified as GovTech. He did prepare a plan with me to make the execution of it...And I will one way or another!

arnoldr
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that was lovely, i guess theres fewer men out there than i thought 3 minutes ago

PhatPhauna
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If is one of those poems that both breaks me and remakes me every time I read it. It humbles. It inspires. It makes me slow down. It makes me try harder.
Beautiful reading. Please continue sharing your readings, but also your writing and your songs. It's what makes being a human beautiful: the connection we have to each other through art, storytelling, or friendships.
Looking forward to the podcast with your father, when the timing feels right to you.

BiancaAguglia
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This is probably my favorite poem. Reciting this to myself is like a wave of calm, this and the Litany Against Fear.

thepatrician
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Perfect words at a perfect time. Thanks for that.
May all your mountains be hills in 2020 Lex.

metafuel
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I had seen that podcast and read poem then. Today I remembered the poem and came for your voice❤

yuvrajanand
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Thanks for this Lex. I fell in love with this poem a year ago and was looking for a great reading of it and came across yours. Thank you. Will share it with my son tomorrow.

rowanmac
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One of the most beautiful poems I had read.
Even Wimbledon used the 3rd & 4th lines of the 2nd stanza of this poem.
Thanks Lex!

rowenab.
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This poem recited by lex .., .was the best thing that could happen today ...

syno
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Forever relevant and inspiring. Brilliant. Thanks!

hridaythakkar
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Hey Mr. Friedman, I really enjoyed your reading of this poem. I hope you do more of them, I'm not sure if anyone else has done this style of poetry reading and I found it very beautiful.

shanemcinally
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Love your new poetry readings.
Much love and gratitude

harrypoter
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My Father read this to me and lived my life by this and what a life of a man that I a have lived .

revamp
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Definitely more like this my friend.
I also saw the video on your instagram of you playing acoustic guitar and singing, it's really cool to see some of your hobbies and interests outside of just podcasting.
I think a lot of times we view public figures as singularly talented based off of what they usually produce but showing other things that you enjoy adds a lot of character depth.
Really enjoyed listening to this, cheers.

golden
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Lex, thank you for this channel. Grateful for the thoughtful conversations between you and your guests as well as the poems. Good intertwining!

madelk
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So many repeat this without having understood or comprehended it.
I see it quoted most often by Life Coaches, Grindset Slaves, Crypto Bro's and other assorted narcissists, grifters and would be gurus.
Glad to see you reading it Lex, you come from a genuine place and you clearly do understand it.

trevfisher
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