The quotations of

Rudyard Kipling

English writer and poet

1865–1936

44 quotes, most often on War & Peace, Women and Animals.

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— (1910)In context
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!
If— (1910)In context
Oh the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin’-fishes play,
An’ the dawn comes up like thunder outer China ’crost the Bay!
Mandalay (1890)In context
- Nature
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget⁠—lest we forget!
Recessional (1897)In context
- God
- History
Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;
But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,
When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth!
The Ballad of East and West (1889)In context
- Courage
- Men
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!
The Gods of the Copybook Headings (1919)In context
- History
- Wisdom
We’re foot⁠—slog⁠—slog⁠—slog⁠—sloggin’ over Africa!
Foot⁠—foot⁠—foot⁠—foot⁠—sloggin’ over Africa⁠—
(Boots⁠—boots⁠—boots⁠—boots, movin’ up and down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!
Boots (1903)In context
- War & Peace
I⁠—‘ave⁠—marched⁠—six⁠—weeks in ‘Ell an’ certify
It⁠—is⁠—not⁠—fire⁠—devils dark or anything
But boots⁠—boots⁠—boots, movin’ up an’ down again,
An’ there’s no discharge in the war!
Boots (1903)In context
- War & Peace
It is the hardest thing in the world to frighten a mongoose, because he is eaten up from nose to tail with curiosity. The motto of all the mongoose family is, “Run and find out”; and Rikki-tikki was a true mongoose.
The Jungle Book (1894), “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”In context
- Animals
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings⁠—nor lose the common touch
If— (1910)In context
- Character
- Virtue
This is the story of the great war that Rikki-tikki-tavi fought single-handed, through the bath-rooms of the big bungalow in Segowlee cantonment.
The Jungle Book (1894), “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”In context
- Animals
When everyone is dead the Great Game is finished. Not before.
Kim (1901), Chapter XIIIn context
- Life & Death
- Politics
I am Kim. I am Kim. And what is Kim?
Kim (1901), Chapter XVIn context
- Philosophy
To those who follow the Way there is neither black nor white, Hind nor Bhotiyal. We be all souls seeking escape.
Kim (1901), Chapter XIIIn context
- Race
- Religion

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