But
If you could dream when your time was up,
And not give up when others do;
If you can take orders well,
But still hold onto your beliefs;
If you can take credit for your work,
But still give it out to the world;
If you can doubt other people,
But accept their doubts about you;
If you could explain yourself,
But still think as freely as you like;
If you could think the skies red,
But still listen to reality;
If you could try to fly alone,
But still accept friends when you need them;
If you could be helped by others,
But still get help from them;
If you could try to make the fish fly,
But still use the reason you know;
If you could decline and accept
Yourself and others
You could do great things
And-better or worse-be a Chemist.
And not give up when others do;
If you can take orders well,
But still hold onto your beliefs;
If you can take credit for your work,
But still give it out to the world;
If you can doubt other people,
But accept their doubts about you;
If you could explain yourself,
But still think as freely as you like;
If you could think the skies red,
But still listen to reality;
If you could try to fly alone,
But still accept friends when you need them;
If you could be helped by others,
But still get help from them;
If you could try to make the fish fly,
But still use the reason you know;
If you could decline and accept
Yourself and others
You could do great things
And-better or worse-be a Chemist.