If – Paraphrase

If you can keep calm when everybody around you,

Are loosing their temper and blaming it all on you;
If you can trust yourself when everybody doubts you;
But acknowledge their doubts too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, deal with rumors, and don’t lie;
Or, deal with hate, and don’t hate,
But don’t be a show off, or be too smart;

If you can dream – and not be controlled by it;

If you can think – and not make your thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Victory and Failure
And treat them similarly;
If you can accept the truth that you have spoken
Which dishonest people can twist,
Or see the things you gave your life to, destroyed,
And slouch and rebuild them with the same, old tools;

If you gather all of your life savings

And risk it for a game of chance,
And lose, and star again at the beginning,
And never whine or say a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and strength
To continue your life after things and creatures close to your heart are gone,
And to hold on when there is no power in you
Except the inner Will that says: “Keep going!”

If you can be part of the majority and keep your morale,

Or have power but not loose humility,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all people regard you, but not all;
If you can make every single minute
Count in your life
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And you will be an adult, my child!