Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" provides a father's advice to his son on how to conduct oneself with strength, resilience, and integrity. The poem outlines various challenges and hardships one may face in life and counsels the son that if he can maintain composure and equanimity in the face of doubt, hatred, lies, failures and losses, treat all people as equals, and perseveringly pursue his goals, then he will achieve great success and truly know himself as a man.