Today I will graduate from Yale University with a Master’s of Divinity degree. In the spirit of this season of graduations, I share with you this excerpt from Conan O’Brien’s speech at Dartmouth’s commencement last year:
I learned a hard but profound lesson last year and I’d like to share it with you. In 2000, I told graduates ‘Don’t be afraid to fail.’ Well now I’m here to tell you that, though you should not fear failure, you should do your very best to avoid it. Nietzsche famously said ‘Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.’ But what he failed to stress is that it almost kills you. Disappointment stings and, for driven, successful people like yourselves it is disorienting. What Nietzsche should have said is, ‘Whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you watch a lot of Cartoon Network and drink mid-price Chardonnay at 11 in the morning.’
10 comments
R-J Heijmen says:
May 21, 2012
Canons’ grad speech is GENIOUS. Proof that suffering creates wisdom, humility and compassion
Rutger-Jan Heijmen says:
May 21, 2012
*Conan’s
Zach says:
May 21, 2012
Wonderful jewel of honesty amidst the dregs of mealy pap spewed from lecterns across the country this time of year
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