Would that I have a thousand lives to live, and never once,
Never once would I cease to learn,
Would that each life I live I have more to give,
Never once achieving greatness-
For your destiny is not an achievement.
Would that each life you live, you climb higher and higher-
You see it, you want it, you reach out and take it!
Craving power, not over others, but over yourself:
If you are strong, those with you will be strong.
Strength of mind, character, and body- these are what make a man.
But how does the muscle grow without tearing and healing?
The singular truth of the thousand lives-
Struggle is manhood, and womanhood. It is masculinity and femininity.
To stand, soul bared to your foe, shameless, whoever it may be-
Your limits will never be exceeded if they are not tested.
Truly, struggle is humanity.
So then, we do not need a thousand lives to learn.
If struggle is humanity, and greatness is destiny,
Then what have we to lose? How much more than that can we gain?
Lift the uncarved stone, seek the unread pages, temper the unknown emotion.
And now, let it be known that a lifetime is lived in a day.
You have lived your thousandth by this noon; and now you know.
Let a thousand more begin tomorrow.
Raise your fighting spirit, your tamed body, and your careful mind.
It will soar with the sun across the world, giving light to those you shine upon.
