More from Jim Carrey

You can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.

JC

Jim Carrey

Maharishi University of Management Commencement 2014, 2014

11:38

Video starts at 11:38 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Jim Carrey delivered one of the most celebrated commencement addresses in recent memory at Maharishi University of Management (now Maharishi International University) in May 2014. This quote came from the most personal passage of the speech, when Carrey shared the story of his father. Carrey's father could have been a great comedian, but he didn't believe it was possible for him. Instead, he chose the safe path and became an accountant. When Carrey was twelve, his father was laid off from that 'safe' job, and the family was thrown into financial hardship. The lesson was devastating in its clarity: security is an illusion, and playing it safe guarantees nothing. If failure is possible on any path, Carrey argued, you might as well choose the path that excites you. The line became one of the most shared quotes from any commencement speech.

Collect Your Favorite Quotes

Save quotes that inspire you. Build your personal collection of wisdom in Minditly — available on both platforms.