Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there.
speech graduation courage
Nora Ephron
Wellesley College Commencement 1996, 1996
Recognize your limitations, and sure enough, they're yours. The world will provide you with every imaginable obstacle, but the one most difficult to overcome will be the lack of faith in yourself.
speech graduation faith
Callie Khouri
Sweet Briar College Commencement 1994, 1994
The only way sexism can truly harm you is if you get used to it. Don't ever get used to it.
speech graduation courage
Callie Khouri
Sweet Briar College Commencement 1994, 1994
And at last you'll know with surpassing certainty that only one thing is more frightening than speaking your truth. And that is not speaking.
speech graduation courage
Naomi Wolf
Scripps College Commencement 1992, 1992
Never cook for or sleep with anyone who routinely puts you down.
speech graduation independence
Naomi Wolf
Scripps College Commencement 1992, 1992
Be a hero in your own life. Do the bold thing, do the honorable thing. Do the thing that flies in the face of conventional wisdom. Do it for the simple heroic reason you feel it's right.
speech graduation courage
Lawrence Kasdan
University of Michigan Commencement 1990, 1990
Mistakes in your 20's are not irreparable; they're part of your education and probably the most valuable part.
speech graduation failure
David Broder
Kalamazoo College Commencement 1988, 1988
He must cling fast to his faith in freedom and insist that freedom is the chief glory of mankind. He must not commit injustice or acquiesce when he sees it done by others.
speech graduation justice
David Broder
Kalamazoo College Commencement 1988, 1988
At all costs try to avoid granting yourself the status of the victim. No matter how abominable your condition may be, try not to blame anything or anybody. The moment you place blame somewhere, you undermine your resolve to change anything.
speech graduation resilience
Joseph Brodsky
University of Michigan Commencement 1988, 1988
Whatever you want to do, do it now. For life is time, and time is all there is.
speech graduation courage
Gloria Steinem
Tufts University Commencement 1987, 1987
When you get knocked down — which is plenty often — you get right up in a hurry, just as quickly as you can.
speech graduation resilience
Woody Hayes
Ohio State University Commencement 1986, 1986
We don't need to accept this state of affairs and all the other increasingly imposed limitations of our society without a fight.
speech graduation independence
Meredith Monk
Sarah Lawrence College Commencement 1985, 1985