Graduation

Your piece of paper not only says where you were educated, but who you were educated with. It declares that you are a member of a community of people to be relied upon, to take risks, provoke thought, and to be committed participants in this world.

When you listen, when you really listen to people, when you listen as fiercely as you want to be heard, when you respect the idea that you are sharing the earth with other humans, when you lead with your nice foot forward, you'll win every time.

We think we know what we want, but we often have no idea what we need. Because of that, we often approach life with one goal and end up finding our real purpose along the way.

Build your tribe. They will keep you alive.

Every person, every question, every tragedy, even every victory — they all have nuance. Pay attention to the nuance.

If you want to take credit, first learn to take responsibility.

In a world without digital privacy, even if you have done nothing wrong other than think differently, you begin to censor yourself. Not entirely at first. Just a little, bit by bit. To risk less, to hope less, to imagine less, to dare less, to create less, to try less, to talk less, to think less.

Your mentors may leave you prepared, but they can't leave you ready.

Whatever you do with your life, be a builder. Builders are comfortable in the belief that their life's work will one day be bigger than them — bigger than any one person.

When people show unhidden joy in their accomplishments and good fortune and blessings, witnessing it feels almost intimate, and that is why all graduations, for all the pomp and ceremony and brass bands, all of them are so personally moving every year.

Conservatism is not a reaction, but a reminder from a wise old friend. It is not the antidote to progressivism. It is not the antidote to anything. It is its own vivid and particular mood, or attitude. It is an attempt at wisdom, grounded in knowledge of human history and human nature.

Whatever holds us together now, whatever makes us stronger, brings us together, binds us close right now is good and necessary and must be encouraged with whatever it takes.