On Quitting

You may talk of pluck; it's an easy word,

And where'er you go it is often heard;

Have you ever tested yourself to know

How far with yourself your will can go?

For it's easy enough to retain a grin

In the face of a fight there's a chance to win,

But can you tell to a jot or guess

Just how much courage you now possess?

If you want to know if you have grit,

Just pick out a joy that you like, and quit.

But the sort of grit that is good to own

Is the stuff you need when you're all alone.

For the toughest kind of a game you'll find

Is to make your body obey your mind.

It's bully sport and it's open fight;

It will keep you busy both day and night;

And you never will know what is meant by grit

Unless there's something you've tried to quit.

You may stand to trouble and keep your grin,

But have you tackled self-discipline?

How much grit do you think you've got?

Can you quit a thing that you like a lot?

How much grit do you think you've got?

Can you turn from joys that you like a lot?

Don't boast of your grit till you've tried it out,

Nor prate to men of your courage stout,

And then, when tempted and sorely swayed,

Those rigid orders have you obeyed?

Have you ever issued commands to you

To quit the things that you like to do,