/lit/ - Literature

If you can see the work of your life destroyed
And without saying a single word, start rebuilding yourself,
Or lose a hundred games in one fell swoop
Without a gesture and without a sigh.

If you can be a lover without being madly in love,
If you can be strong without ceasing to be tender,
Be hated, without hating in return,
Yet fight and defend yourself.

If you can bear to hear your words
Used against you by beggars to excite fools,
to hear their slanderous mouths lying on you
Without lying to yourself a word.

If you can stay worthy by being popular,
If you can remain a part of your people by advising your leaders,
If you can love all your friends as brothers,
Without any of them being all for you.

If you know how to meditate, observe, and know,
Without ever becoming cynical and destructive,
Dream, but without letting your dream be your master,
Think, without being just a thinker.

If you can be tough without ever being mad
If you can be brave and never reckless,
If you know how to be good, if you know how to be wise,
Without being moral or pedantic.

If you can meet Triumph after Defeat
And receive these two liars from the same front,
If you can keep your courage and your head
When everyone else loses theirs,

The leaders, the Gods, Luck and Victory
Will forever be your submissive slaves,
You will be a man, my son.

>tfw King James Version

I haven't read a book in 6 years and would like to start off with something that isn't too depressing or melancholy. I'm a big fan of military and sci-fi stories. Combinations of those two are fun as well. Anyone have any recommendations?

>>10612959
oh my fucking god