<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=510674" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>A Preface</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">To all to whom this little book may come--<br>Health for yourselves and those you hold most dear!<br>Content abroad, and happiness at home,<br>And--one grand Secret in your private ear: --<br>Nations have passed away and left no traces,<br>And History gives the naked cause of it--<br>One single, simple reason in all cases;<br>They fell because their peoples were not fit.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Now, though your Body be mis-shapen, blind,<br>Lame, feverish, lacking substance, power or skill,<br>Certain it is that men can school the Mind<br>To school the sickliest Body, to her will--<br>As many have done, whose glory blazes still<br>Like mighty flames in meanest lanterns lit:<br>Wherefore, we pray the crippled, weak and ill--<br>Be fit--be fit! In mind at first be fit!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">And, though your Spirit seem uncouth or small,<br>Stubborn as clay or shifting as the sand,<br>Strengthen the Body, and the Body shall<br>Strengthen the Spirit till she take command;<br>As a bold rider brings his horse in hand<br>At the tall fence, with voice and heel and bit,<br>And leaps while all the field are at a stand.<br>Be fit--be fit! In body next be fit!</div><div style="margin:10px 0"> Nothing on earth--no Arts, no Gifts, no Graces--<br>No Fame, no Wealth--outweighs the wont of it.<br>This is the Law which every law embraces--<br>Be fit--be fit! In mind and body be fit!</div><div style="margin:10px 0">The even heart that seldom slurs its beat-- <br>The cool head weighing what that heart desires--<br>The measuring eye that guides the hands and feet--<br>The Soul unbroken when the Body tires--<br>These are the things our weary world requires <br>Far more than superfluities of wit;<br>Wherefore we pray you, sons of generous sires,<br>Be fit--be fit! For Honour's sake be fit.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"> There is one lesson at all Times and Places--<br>One changeless Truth on all things changing writ,<br>For boys and girls, men, women, nations, races--<br>Be fit -- be fit! And once again, be fit!</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Rudyard+Kipling">Rudyard Kipling</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=510674" data-title="A Preface de Rudyard Kipling" data-description="To all to whom this little book may come-- Health for yourselves and those you hold most dear! Content abroad, and happiness at home, And--one grand Secret in your private ear: -- Nations have passed away and left no traces, And History gives the ..."></div> </div> </div>

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