If you want to cross the river of life, you're gonna get wet. And that's not a bug — that's a feature.
failure resilience growth
Mark Rober
MIT Commencement 2023, 2023
Ideas don't come out fully formed. They only become clear as you work on them. You just have to get started.
speech graduation courage
Mark Zuckerberg
Harvard University Commencement 2017, 2017
Don't be afraid to fail. If you don't go, you'll never know. You just have to be bold and go out there and take your chances.
speech graduation courage
Robert De Niro
NYU Tisch School of the Arts Commencement 2015, 2015
You're all here because you're good at not failing. This is the culmination of doing a great job at not failing. However, there are no GPAs after this. Failure is an option.
speech graduation failure
Alexis Ohanian
Carthage College Commencement 2014, 2014
Develop your own compass, and trust it. Take risks. Dare to fail. Remember the first person through the wall always gets hurt.
speech graduation courage
Aaron Sorkin
Syracuse University Commencement 2012, 2012
Not every risk will work out, but that's okay. Failure is the world's best teacher.
speech graduation failure
Michael Bloomberg
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Commencement 2012, 2012
Develop your own compass, and trust it. Take risks. Dare to fail. Remember, the first person through the wall always gets bloody.
speech graduation courage
Aaron Sorkin
Syracuse University Commencement 2012, 2012
No one ever sets out to fail. But being afraid to fail means you'll be afraid to try. Playing it safe will get you nowhere.
speech graduation failure
Steve Blank
Philadelphia University Commencement 2011, 2011
It's okay to fail, and fail big. Failing is the thing that builds character. Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
speech graduation failure
Tiffany Shlain
UC Berkeley Commencement 2010, 2010
Ready, Fire, Aim. If you feel positive in your gut about your idea — do it. Don't get stuck in the limbo of 'Ready, Aim, Aim, Aim' and let someone else do the firing. Be there first!
speech graduation entrepreneurship
Earl Bakken
University of Hawaii Commencement 2004, 2004
Not experiencing any failure in life is rarely a sign of perfection. Rather, it's a sign that your goals are not bold enough.
speech graduation failure
Daniel S. Goldin
MIT Commencement 2001, 2001