This was De Niro's most quietly devastating line — a veteran of over fifty years in the industry acknowledging that effort alone doesn't guarantee results. He told the graduates bluntly: 'Did you get straight As in school? If so, good for you, congratulations, but in the real world you'll never get straight As again. There are ups and there are downs.' The message was a counterweight to the toxic positivity of most commencement speeches, which imply that hard work always leads to success. De Niro's version was more honest: sometimes your best simply isn't enough, and that's not a moral failing. 'And what I want to say to you today is that it's okay.' Coming from someone who had reached the very top of his craft, this permission to fail without shame may have been the most valuable gift he gave the graduates.