Rudyard Kipling

Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936) British novelist and poet

• "It's clever, but is it Art?"
  • Notes: attributed, from his poetry The Conundrum of the Workshops. Other words include pretty, human, and it, in place of clever.

• "Humble because of knowledge; mighty by sacrifice."
  • Notes: attributed, from his work The Islanders

• "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."
  • Notes: attributed, from his work The Ballad of East and West

• "A fool there was and he made his prayer,(Even as you and I), To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair, (We called her the woman who did not care), But the fool he called her his lady fair."
  • Notes: attributed, from his work The Vampire

• "And a woman is only a woman, but a good cigar is a smoke."
  • Notes: attributed, from his work The Betrothed

• "the slow touch of a frozen finger tracing out my spine"
  • The Signalman

• Excerpts from The Young British Soldier:

"When you're first under fire and you're wishful to duck,

Don't look nor take heed of the man who is struck.

Be thankful you're living, and trust to your luck,

And march to your front like a soldier!"

"When your officer's down and the sergeants look white,

Remember, it's ruin to run from a fight,

So take open order, lie down, and sit tight,

And wait for supports like a soldier!"

"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,

And the women come out to cut up what remains,

Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains

And go to your Gawd like a soldier!"

• Excerpt from Mandalay:

"Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,

Where there aren't no Ten Commandments, and a man can raise a thirst."

• Excerpts from Gunga Din:

"You may talk of gin and beer when you're quartered safe out here,

And indulge in penny-fights, and Aldershot it;

But when it comes to slaughter, you will do your work on water,

And you'll kiss the bleedin' boots of him that's got it."

"So I'll meet him later on, in the place where he has gone,

Where it's always double drill and no canteen.

He'll be squattin' on the coals, giving drink to poor damned souls,

And I'll get a swig in Hell from Gunga Din!"

"Though I've beaten and I've flayed you,

By the living God that made you,

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din."