Details description on Rudyard Kipling's speech on Values in Life

1. 1
B.Com II
SEMESTER IV Compulsory English
PROSE
Values in Life
By: Rudyard Kipling
About the Author
Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) was an English poet and novelist who
is remembered for his works of fiction, including Kim, Just So
Stories, and The Jungle Book. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1907. Kipling was offered a Knighthood several times,
though he declined it. Controversy surrounds Kipling's career as
many critics believe that despite his exceptional narrative talent,
Kipling may in fact have been promoting British imperialism.
About the Speech
The piece included here is a speech delivered by Kipling before a group of university
students in Canada. In this speech, he puts before the students two choices-wealth
for wealth's sake and wealth for the sake of betterment, to fulfill the needs of life. He
suggests, 'Acquire wealth with your left hand, but keep your right hand for your proper
work in life.
According to the ancient and laudable custom of the schools, I, as one of your
wandering scholars returned, have been instructed to speak to 4. The only penalty
youth must pay for its enviable privileges is that listening to people known, alas, to be
older and alleged to be wiser. On such occasions youth feigns an air of polite interest
and reverence, while age tries to look virtuous. Which pretenses sit uneasily on both
of them.
On such occasions very little truth is spoken. I will try not to depart the convention. I
will not tell you how the sins of youth are due very largely to its virtues; how its
arrogance is very often the result of its innate shyness; how its brutality is the outcome
of its natural virginity of spirit. These things are true, but your preceptors might object
to texts without the proper notes and emendations. But I can try to speak
you more or less truthfully on certain matters to which you may the attention and belief
proper to your years.
When, to use a detestable phrase, you go out into the battle of life, you
will be confronted by an organised conspiracy which will try to you believe that the
world is governed by the idea of wealth for wealth sake, and that all means which lead
to the acquisition of that wealth are if not laudable, at least expedient. Those of you
who have fitly imbibed the spirit of our University-and it was not a materialistic
University which trained a scholar to take both the Craven and the Ireland i England-
Will Violently resent that thought, but you will live and cat and move and have your
being in a world dominated by that thought. Some of you will probably succumb to the
poison of it.
Now, I do not ask you not to be carried away by the first rush of the great game of life.
That is expecting you to be more than human. But I do ask you, after the first heat of

2. 2
the game, that you draw breath and watch your fellows for a while. Sooner or later,
you will see some man to whom the idea of wealth as mere wealth does not appeal,
whom the methods of amassing that wealth do not interest, and who will not accept
money you offer it to him at a certain price.
At first you will be inclined to laugh at this man, and to think that he is not 'smart' in his
ideas. I suggest that you watch him closely, forte will presently demonstrate to you
that money dominates everybody the man who does not want money. You may meet
that man you farm, in your village, or in your legislature. But be sure that, whenever
wherever you meet him, as soon as it comes to a direct issue between you his little
finger will be thicker than your loins. You will go in tear af he will not go in fear of you.
You will do what he wants he will not what you want. You will find that you have no
weapon in your armoury with which you can attack him, no argument with which you
can appa to him. Whatever you gain, he will gain more.
I would like you to study that man. I would like you better to be the man, because from
the lower point of view it doesn't pay to be obsessed by the desire of wealth for wealth's
sake. If more wealth is necessary to you, for purposes not your own, use your left hand
to acquire it but your night for your proper work in life. If you employ both arms in that
game, you will be in danger of stooping, in danger also of losing
your in spite of everything you may succeed,you may be
successful, you may acquire enormous wealth. In which case I
warn you that you stand in grave danger of being spoken and written of and
pointed out as 'a smart man'. And that is one of the most terrible calamities that can
overtake a sane, civilised, white man in our Empire today,
They say youth is the season of hope, ambition, and uplift--that the last word youth
needs is an exhortation to be cheerful. Some of you here know-and I remember--that
youth can be a season of great depression, despondencies, doubts, and wavering, the
worse because they seem to be peculiar to ourselves and incommunicable to our
fellows. There is a certain darkness into which the soul of the young man sometimes
descends-a horror of desolation, abandonment, and realised worthlessness, which is
one of the most real of the hells in which we are compelled to walk.
I know of what I speak. This is due to a variety of causes, the chief of which is the
egotism of the human animal itself. But I can tell you for your comfort that the chief
cure for it is to interest yourself, to lose yourself in some issue not personal to yourself-
in another man's trouble or, preferably, another man's joy. But, if the dark hour does
not vanish, as sometimes it doesn't, if the black cloud will not lift, as sometimes it will
not, let me tell you again for your comfort that there are many liars in the world, but
there are no liars like our own sensations. The despair and the horror mean nothing,
because there is for you nothing irremediable, nothing ineffaceable, and nothing
irrecoverable in anything you may have said or thought or done. If, for any reason, you
cannot believe or have not been taught to believe in the infinite mercy of Heaven,
which has made us all, and will take care we do not go far astray, at least believe that
you are not yet sufficiently important to be taken too seriously by the Powers above
us or beneath us. In other words, take anything and everything seriously except
yourselves.
I regret that I noticed certain signs of irreverent laughter when I alluded to the word
'smartness'. I have no message to deliver, but, if I had a message to deliver to a
University which I love, to the young men who have the future of their country to mould,
I would say with all the force at my command, Do not be 'smart'. If I were not a Doctor

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of this University with a deep interest in its discipline, and if I did not hold the strongest
views on that reprehensible form of amusement known as rushing, I would say that,
whenever and wherever you find one of your dear little playmates showing signs of
smartness in his work, his talk, or his play, take him tenderly by the hand-by both
hands, by the back of the neck if necessary-and lovingly, playfully, but firmly, lead him
to a knowledge of higher and more interesting things.
Glossary
Laudable:; worthy of being praised; praiseworthy
Innate :inborn; natural
Emendations: an act of altering for the better or correcting what is erroneous or faulty:
corrections or improvements
detestable: stimulating disgust; offensive or shocking
Expedient: simple; convenient
despondency: the loss of hope or confidence; despair
Exhortation: the act of appealing to someone
desolation : a state of complete emptiness or destruction
Craven: unwilling to fight; lacking even basic courage
irremediable:not treatable or able to be put right
Comprehension
1. Answer the following questions in 50 to 100 words each.
a. According to the author, what are the reasons behind the 'sins of the youth?
b. What makes one believe that the world is governed by the idea of
wealth for wealth's sake?
c. Who, according to Kipling, will resent the thought of wealth for
wealth's sake and why?
d. What does Kipling refer to as the great game of life? Explain why.
e. What advice does the author give to those who desire more wealth?
f. What will be the result if we use both hands for collecting wealth?
g. Whom does the author regard as the supreme liar? Give reasons, for your answer.
2. Answer the following questions in 150 to 200 words each.
a. Discuss Kipling's views on acquiring wealth. Do you agree with him? Give reasons
for your answer.
b. Kipling concludes by saying, 'I have no message to deliver'. Is this
true? Justify the statement with your own observations.

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SUMMARY
According to the ancient custom of the schools, the author was a wandering scholar.
He has been instructed to speak. On such occasions, very little truth is spoken. He
won't be able to depart from the convention. Youth is due very largely to its virtues. Its
arrogances are very often due to its innate shyness. Brutality is the result of its natural
virginity of spirit.
He gives an example of the battle of lines'. Often we confront an organized conspiracy,
The world is governed by the idea of wealth for wealth's sake which leads to the
acquisition of that wealth Those who have fitly imbibed the spirit of a university that
doesn't mean a materialistic university. Because the scholars like Craven and Ireland
in England will violently resent that thought of wealth for wealth's sake. Some of them
will succumb to the poison of it
He said that one should not carry away the first rush of the great game of life.
Soon the idea of wealth as mere wealth does not appeal. The methods of
collecting wealth do not appeal. The man who does not accept money at first
will laugh at him. He will demonstrate that money dominates everybody except
the man who does not want money. He will not afraid, he will frighten us.
The author wanted to study such a man because he doesn't pay to the obsessed by
the desire of wealth for wealth's sake. He gives a piece of advice to those who want
more wealth, then use left hand to acquire it but keep right hand for proper work in life.
If we employ both hands in accumulating wealth, then it means we are losing soul.
Grave danger would appear before us. One of the terrible calamities that can overtake
a sane, civilized, white man in an empire today.
The author argues that youth is the season of hope, ambition and uplift. They need an
exhortation to be cheerful. It may be cause of depression, despondencies, doubts and
wavering. The worse because they seem to be peculiar to ourselves and
incommunicable to our fellows. There is certain darkness into which the soul of the
young man sometime descends- a horror of desolation, abandonment, and realized
worthlessness, which is one the most real of the hells in which we are compelled to
walk. This is happened due to Variety of causes the foremost one is the egotism of the
human animal itself. Another's ma trouble is another for joy. For comfort there are
many liars in the world.
He goes on to say that there are certain signs of irreverent laughter when he alluded
to the word 'smartness'. He says that he has no message to deliver, but if he had a
message to deliver to a university which he love, to the young men who have the future
of their country to mould. One should not be smart in his talk, play. We should take
him tenderly by the hand, by both hands, by the back of the neck if necessary and
lovingly, playfully, but firmly lead him to knowledge of higher and more interesting
things.

5. 5
मराठी साराांश
शाळे च्या जुनाट परांपरेनुसार लेखक हे एक भरकटलेले विद्यार्थी समजले जात. एकदा त्ाांना भाषण
देण्याकरीता साांगण्यात आले. लेखक हा समारांभ टाळू शकले नव्हते. तरूणाकड
ू न सदगुणाची फार मोठी
अपेक्षा असते. मात्र त्ाांच्यातील उपजत लाजाळू पणामुळे त्ाांचा स्वाभीमान स्पष्ट होत असतो.
गवििष्ठपणामुळे क्रोधामुळे मात्र त्ाांच्यातील दैविशक्तीची जाणीि होत नाही.
लेखकाने जीिनातील सांघषािचे उदाहरण देत स्पष्ट क
े ले की, बरेचदा आपणास समाजाच्या ठराविक
विचारधारेला सामोरे जािे लागते. सांपत्तीच सिि काही आहे, या विचारानेच आपण जगत असतो ि
अवधकाधीक सांपत्ती गोळा करण्याच्या मागे लागतो. विश्वाच्या शक्तीचा खरा अर्थि समजून न घेता
भौतीकिादाचा पाठपुरािा करीत बसतो. इांग्लांड मधील काव्हैन ि आयरिलँड सांस्र्थेतील वशक्षणानुसार
तेर्थील विद्यार्थ्ािना सांपत्तीसाठी सांपत्ती गोळा करणे या विचाराने प्रवतक्राांती वनमािण होऊन त्ाच्या देशाला
बळी पडािे लागेल, असे त्ाांना िाटते.
पुढे ते म्हणतात की, ठराविक जीिनधारेपासून आपण दू र जायला नको. दरीद्री जीिन जगणेही नको
आहे. परांतु योग्य मागािने सांपत्ती गोळा क
े ली पाहीजे. जो व्यक्ती पैसा कमित नाही, तो स्वतःच फाजीलपणे
हसत असतो. धन लोकाांना हीन ठरवित असते. मात्र धनाची अपेक्षा न ठे िणारा वनभिय असतो, असे तो
दाखविण्याचा प्रयत्न करीत असतो.
लेखकाला अश्या व्यक्तीचा अभ्यास कराियाचा आहे, जो सारखा धना साठी धन प्राप्त करण्याच्या मागे
लागत नाही. अवधकाधीक धन गोळा करणारे आहेत, त्ाांना लेखक उपदेश देतात की, ते िाम मागािने
पैसा गोळा करतात, तर दुसऱ्या हाताने सत्कमि करीत असतात. परांतु जे दोन्ही हाताने धन गोळा करतात,
ते आत्मशाांती हरिून बसतात. हा मोठा धोका असतो त्ाांच्यासाठ त्ाांचे शहाणपण, नागरीपण नष्ट
होण्याची भयांकर आपत्ती त्ाच्यािर येण्याची सांभािना अधीक असते...
लेखक स्पष्ट करतात की, युिक हा आशा आकाक्षा ि विकासाचा प्रेरक आहे. त्ाांना सुयोग्य िळण
लािण्याची गरज आहे. त्ाांच्या मनाला सतेज करून, त्ाांच्यातील शका-क
ु शक
े चे वनरसन करणे गरजेचे
आहे अन्यर्था त्ाांचे सामाजीकता नष्ट होऊन वनरोपयोगी ठरतील. त्ाांच्यातील अज्ञानाचा अधकार जो
समाज विघातक, विध्वांसकपणा ि एकटेपणा वदसन येतो. तो दर क
े ला समानाही तर आपणास त्ाचे
परीणाम वनवितच भोगािे लागतील. मनुष्यातील गवििष्ठपणा, मी-पणा हे एकमेि कारण आहे की, तो अशा
गैरकत्ाकडे नेतो. एकाचे दुःख दुसऱ्याला सुखद िाटते. यातून बाहेर पड
ू न जीिनाचे अनेक मागि जगात
उपलब्ध आहेत.
लेखक पढे म्हणतात की, जगाच्या तर्थाकर्थीत पुढारलेपणाचा विचार करता अनेक हास्यास्पद गोष्टी वदसून
येतात.
लेखकाला याबद्दल काही म्हणाियाचे नाही, मात्र ऐिढे साांग इच्छितात की. ज्या विश्वविद्यालयािर, त्ाांचे
प्रेम आहे, तेर्थील तरुणाांना ते म्हणतात की, त्ाच्या देशाला योग्य मागािने नेण्याचे सामर्थ्ि त्ाांच्यात असन,
ते क
े िळ त्ाांच्या बोलण्या चालण्यापूरत न ठे िता, दोन्ही हाताांनी ि गरज असल्यास पाठबळ देऊन
खेळकर िृत्तीने, आनांदाने ि वनियतेने अधीक उच्च ज्ञान ि वहतकारक गोष्टीसाठी झटले पाहीजे.

6. 6
ह िंदी सारािंश
स्क
ु ल की पुरानी परांपरा क
े अनुसार लेखक को एक भटका हआ विद्यार्थी कहा जाता र्था । एक स्क
ु ल क
े
कायिक्रम में उन्हें भाषण देने को कहा गया । इस परांपरा को िो टाल नहीां सकते र्थे । उन्होने कहा की,
युिको से अिे कायि, बतािि की बहुत बढी उम्मीद रखी जाती है । लेकीन उनकी उपजत शमितासे ि
अपना स्वाभीमान खो बैठते है । विविहीत अहांम और क्रोध क
े कारण उनक
े अांदर की नैसगीक शक्ती िे
जान नाही पाते।
लेखक ने जीिन क
े सांघषो का उदाहरण देते हुओ स्पष्ट वकया की, समाज की वनवित की गयी विचारधारा
क
े अनुसार ही उनको चलना पडता है । धन ही सबक
ु छ है, यही विचारधारा रखकर ज्यादा से ज्यादा धन
कमाने मे लोक जुट जाते है । विश्वशक्ती का खरा खरा सज्ञान न लेते हुओ, भौतीक लाभोमेही हीत है ऐसा
समजकर, उसे पाने की विचारधारा रखते है । इांग्लड की काव्हिन, आयरलैंड की शैक्षणीक सांस्र्था जो,
ज्यादा से ज्यादा धन मे सुख वमलता है, यह भािना से परे होकर रहने, नहीां तो प्रतीक्राांती से विफलता का
सामना करना पडेगा, ऐसी वशक्षा दी जाती है ।
लेखक आगे कहते है की, वनवित विचारधारा से दू र रहना चाहीए । गरीबी में भी जीना नहीां चाहीए ।
लेकीन, सही मागि अपना कर ही धन प्राप्त करना चाहीए । जो आदमी जादा धन नही कमाता, िही अपने
आप पर हसता है । क
ु छ सोचते है की, सांपत्ती आदमी को वनचले स्तर पर ले जाती है । लेकीन जो जादा
धन की अपेक्षा नहीां रखता िह वनभिय जीिन व्यतीत करता है।
लेखक ऐसे व्यक्ती की खोज में है जो धन क
े वलए धन कमाना गलत है ऐसी विचार धारा रखता हो । जो
ज्यादातर धन कमाने में जुटे हुआ है, उन्हे लेखक सलाह देना चाहते है की, िह बाए हार्थ से धन कमाते
है, और दहीने हात से अिा कमि करते है
लेकीन जो दोनो हातो से धन बटोरते है, िह आत्मशाांती खो बैठते है । यह उनक
े वलए खतरे की बात है
। उनकी सांज्ञानता, समज खतम होकर उनपर बडी भयक
ां र मुसीबते आ सकती है।
लेखक कहते है की, युिा िगि आशा आकाांक्षा और विकास का स्त्रोत है, जो उन्हें अिी वदशा वदखाने
की आिश्यकता है । उनक
े मन को अिी प्रकार से उत्तेजीत करना जरूरी है । उनकी शांकाए दू र करक
े
उनमे अिा बदलाि लाना चाहीए । अन्यर्था िह अज्ञान क
े अांधकार मे ड
ू बकर समाज को उनकी
विध्वांसक कायोक
े परीणाम समाज को भुगतना पडेंगे । आदमी का अहम, गवििष्ठता ही उनको समाज
विरोधक कायो मे ले जाता है । दू सरो क
े दुःख से वकसी को सुख वमलता है, ऐसी भािना आती है । इससे
परे होकर जीिन सुखी बनाने क
े बहुत रास्ते है, िह अपनाने वसख उन्हे देना चाहीए।
लेखक आगे कहते है की, दुवनया की वदखािे की आधुवनकता पर गौर वकये तो, बहुतसी हास्यास्पद बाते
नजर आती है। इसक
े बारे में िह क
ु छ कहना नहीां चाहते । लेकीन, विश्वविद्यालय क
े युिा छात्र, जो उन्हें
बहुत वप्रय है, उन्हे बताना चाहते है की, सक
े क
े िल रहन सहन और बोल भाषा में सुधार न लाते हुओ
देश को सही वदशा देने क
े उनक
े सामर्थ्ि का उपयोग मे लाने क
े वलए।
प्रेरीत करना जरूरी है । अपने दोन्ही हार्थो से, खुशीसे और आत्मविश्वास क
े सार्थ उन्होने विधायक और
हीतकारक कायों क
े वलए आगे बढना चाहीए ।

7. 7
Q. 1:- Discuss Kipling's view on acquiring wealth. Do you agree with him? Give
reasons for your answer.
Ans. :-
Values in Life is a piece of speech that appears in the volume of Kipling's collected
speeches Book of Words (1928). The speech was delivered before a group of
university students in Canada. In his speech, he puts before students two choices-
Wealth for wealth's sake, or the sake of betterment to fulfill the need of life. He
suggests' acquire wealth with your left hand, but keep your right hand for proper work
in life.
The author was a wandering scholar. He has been instructed to speak. On such
occasions, very little truth is spoken. He won't be able to depart from the convention.
Youth is due very largely to its virtues how its arrogances are very often the result of
its innate shyness; how its brutality is the outcome of its natural virginity of spirit.
Preceptors might object without the proper notes and emendations.
He gives an example of the battle of line'. Often we confront by an organized
conspiracy, The world is governed by the idea of wealth for wealth's sake that lead to
the acquisition of that wealth Those who have fitly imbibed the spirit of university that
doesn't mean materialistic university. Because the scholars like Craven and the
Ireland in England will violently resent that thought. Some of them will succumb to the
poison of it.
He said that one should not carry away the first rush of the great game of life.. Soon
the idea of wealth as mere wealth does not appeal. The methods of collecting wealth
do not appeal. The man who does not accept money at first we will laugh at him. He
will demonstrate that money dominates everybody except the man who does not want
money. He will not afraid, he will frighten us.
Q.2 :- Kipling concludes by saying, 'I have no message to deliver'. Is this true?
Justify the statement with your own observations.
OR Whom does the author regard as the supreme liar? Give reason for your
answer.
Ans. :- This is a piece of speech Values in Life that appears in the Book of Words
(1928) a volume of Kipling's collected speeches. The address was originally delivered
in the fall of 1907 before a group of university students in Canada. In his speech, he
puts before the students two choices- wealth for wealth's sake, or the sake of
betterment to fulfill the needs of life. He suggests' acquire wealth with your left hand,
but keep right hand for proper work in life.
The author wanted to study such a man because he doesn't pay to the obsession by
the desire for wealth for wealth's sake. If someone wants more wealth, then use the
left hand to acquire it but keep the right hand for proper work in life. If we employ both
hands in accumulating wealth, then it means we are losing souls. The grave danger
would appear before us. One of the terrible calamities that can overtake a sane,
civilized, white man in an empire today.
The author argues that youth is the season of hope, ambition, and uplift. Youth needs
an exhortation to be cheerful. It may be because of depression. despondencies,
doubts, and wavering, the worse because they seem to be peculiar to ourselves and
incommunicable to our fellows. There is certain darkness into which the soul of the
young man sometimes descends- a horror of desolation, abandonment, and realized

8. 8
worthlessness, which is one of the most real of the hells in which we are compelled to
walk. This is happened due to a variety of causes the foremost one is the egotism of
the human animal itself. Another's man trouble is another for joy. For comfort there are
many liars in the world. The despair and the horror mean nothing
He goes on to say that there are certain signs of irreverent laughter when he alluded
to the word 'smartness'. He says that he has no message to deliver, but if he had a
message to deliver to a university which he love, to the young men who have the future
of their country to mould, he would says with all he force at his command. One should
not be smart in his talk, play. We should take him tenderly by the hand, by both hands,
by the back of the neck if necessary and lovingly, playfully, but firmly lead him to
knowledge of higher and more interesting things.
B. SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Answer the following questions in about 75 words each
Q.1 :- According to the author, what are the reasons behind the sins of the
youth?
Ans. :- This is a piece of speech Values in Life that appears in the Book of Words
(1928) a volume of Kipling's collection of speeches. This speech was originally
delivered in the fall of 1907 before a group of university students in Canada. In his
speech, he puts before the students two choices- wealth for wealth's sake, or the sake
of betterment to fulfill the needs of life. He suggests' Acquire wealth with your left hand,
but keep your right hand for proper work in life.
According to the ancient custom of the schools, the author was a wandering
scholar. He has been instructed to speak. On such occasions, very little truth is
spoken. He won't be able to depart from the convention. Youth is due very
largely to its virtues. But their arrogances are very often the result of their innate
shyness. Its brutality is the outcome of its natural virginity of spirit. Preceptors
might object without the proper notes and emendations. These are the reasons
behind the sins of the youth.
Q.2:- What makes one believe that the world is governed by the idea of wealth
for wealth's sake?
OR Q.3 :- Who, according to Kipling, will resent the thought of wealth for
wealth's sake and why?
Ans. :- This is a piece of speech Values in Life appears in a Book of Words (1928) a
volume of Kipling's collection of speeches. This speech was originally delivered in the
fall of 1907 before a group of university students in Canada. In his speech, he puts
before the students two choices-wealth for wealth's sake, or the sake of betterment to
fulfill the needs in life.
He suggests, acquire wealth with your left hand, but keep right hand for proper work
in life.
Kipling gives an example of the battle of line'. Often we deal with by organized
conspiracy, That's why one believe that the world is governed by the idea of wealth for
wealth's sake. That lead to the acquisition of that wealth. Those youths who have
imbibed the spirit of university that doesn't mean materialistic university. Because the
scholars like Craven and the Ireland in England will violently resent that thought. Some
of them will succumb to the poison of it

9. 9
Q. 4:- What does Kipling refer to as the great game of life? Explain why.
Ans. :- This is a piece of speech Values in Life appears in a Book of Words (1928)
volume of Kipling's collection of speeches. This speech was originally delivered in the
fall of 1907 before a group of university students in Canada. In his speech, he puts
before the students two choices- wealth for wealth's sake, or the sake of betterment
to fulfill the needs of life. He suggests' Acquire wealth with your left hand, but keep
right hand for proper work! in life.
The author said that one should not carry away the first rush of the great game of life.
. Soon the idea of wealth as mere wealth does not appeal. The methods of collecting
wealth do not appeal. The man who does not accept money at first we will laugh at
him. He will demonstrate that money dominates everybody except the man who does
not want money He will not afraid, he will frighten us.
Q.5:- What advice does the author give to those who desire more wealth?
OR Q.6 :- What will be the result if we use both hands for collecting wealth?
Ans. :- This is a piece of speech Values in Life appears in a Book of Words (1928) a
volume of Kipling's collection of speeches. This speech was originally delivered in the
fall of 1907 before a group of university students in Canada. In his speech, he puts
before the students two choices- wealth for wealth's sake, or the sake of betterment
to fulfill the needs of life. He suggests' Acquire wealth with your left hand, but keep
right hand for proper work in life.
Rudyard Kipling wanted to study such man who wants wealth. Because he doesn't
pay to the obsessed by the desire of wealth for wealth's sake. He gives a piece of
advice to those who wants more wealth. They should use left hand to acquire money
but keep right hand for proper work in life. If we employ both hands in accumulating
wealth, then it means we are losing soul. Grave danger would appear before us. One
of the terrible calamities is that can overtake a sane, civilized, white man in empire
today.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. 10
All-in-One Answer (IMP)
Values in Life is a piece of speech that appears in the volume of Kipling's
collected speeches Book of Words (1928). The speech was delivered before a
group of university students in Canada. In his speech, he puts before students
two choices- Wealth for wealth's sake, or the sake of betterment to fulfill the
need of life. He suggests' acquire wealth with your left hand, but keep your right
hand for proper work in life.
The author was a wandering scholar. He has been instructed to speak. He
explores the theme of greed, honesty, conflict, and acceptance. He says that one
should not be wealthy for wealth’s sake. In reality, an individual should be wary
of becoming greedy and be content with their lot when it comes to the issue of
wealth. Life is wasted by the constant pursuit of wealth. It is difficult for a man
to have balance in life and therefore, there is suffering. Kipling says the pursuit
of wealth is an illusion that people follow because they believe it would make
them happy. Yet the poorer man can be happier than the man who is wealthy.
Kipling says that wealth is not everything that will make a person happy. Thus
chasing wealth or money is a waste of time and deflects an individual from their
real purpose in life. He advocates that people should use their knowledge for
good deeds. He says that greed is one of man's most basic vices. Therefore,
helping someone is preferable to watching their failure.
However, there are people for whom the idea of wealth as mere wealth just
doesn't work. They don't care about the methods of wealth accumulation. Such
a person is not considered wise. But after closely watching this man, people
realized that man is fearless and do what he wants. On the other hand, money-
conscious people feared and controlled.
The end of the speech is interesting as Kipling accepts that there are some
(students) who will pursue wealth with great gusto and forgo any link with
humanity. Therefore, the author advises the students to learn more about life by
engaging with a man who does not believe in wealth. It is better to be poor and
happy than wealthy and miserable.
-----------------------------------xx-----------------------------------
Notes Prepared By
Dr. G. N. Khamankar,
Head, Dept. of English,
Vivekanand Mahavidyalaya, Bhadrawati