Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Linh]

Teachers:

I've come across an interesting sentence that reads "if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two imposters just the same, yours is the world and all that is in it."

I check the word "imposter" and learn that it refers to a person (who makes deceitful pretenses). How could "two imposters" replace "triumph and disaster"? It is a metaphoric expression? If yes, what, in your opinion, is the relationship between triumph, disaster, and an imposter?

Then there's the "yours" which also confuses me. What does it refer to? "your imposter"?

Thanks a lot in advance.

[CP]

By calling them both imposters, the author is implying that triumph and disaster are not what they appear to be, and should not unduly influence you. Don't be too proud of your victories, and don't let your defeats bring you down. Treat them both with the same determination to continue improving and doing the right thing.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[Linh]

Thanks a lot for your quick response, CP!