The dictionary definition of advice is a suggestion or recommendation regarding a decision or course of action. One often receives advice on many different decisions through out a lifetime. Advice comes wanted, or unwanted, good or bad but usually well meant. The poems "If" by Rudyard Kipling and "Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann are powerful examples of good advice. The poems outline an action plan on how to live and deal with the people and situations that one encounters daily and through out their lives. In spite of their many similarities, the poems differ in their expectations of how to achieve success and happiness in life.
             Kipling's poem gives some very good advice on how to understand human nature and therefore how to learn to understand one self. He counsels his reader to be patient, and on how to handle difficult people. He suggests that one should remain unperturbed by other's attitudes and opinions, while at the same time make allowances for their weaknesses. He demonstrates this ideal by writing, "If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you." "But make allowances for their doubting too." In order for one to attain success and happiness, one must over come one's natural instinct to blame others and doubt themselves.
             Ehrmann's poem calls the reader to a higher level of living, because the tendency of human nature is to be vain and compare our selves to others. "If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself." When one becomes bitter and vain, they lose the ability to appreciate and enjoy what they have. Ehrmann advises us to "go placidly" through the "noise and haste" of life, and to get along with others, the best one can, without compromising ones self. At the same time, one needs to listen to and show res...