More from Pharrell Williams

Talk about your accomplishments. Be humble, but not too humble. Don't be invisible.

PW

Pharrell Williams

New York University Commencement 2017, 2017

7:33

Video starts at 7:33 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Pharrell repeats 'talk about your accomplishments' three times in succession, driving the point home with deliberate emphasis. He then adds the crucial qualifier that makes this more than a motivational cliché: be humble, but don't be invisible. His argument is that the days of the anonymous activist or anonymous donor are over. How can you inspire anyone if you're only behind the scenes? How will an anonymous donation ever inspire another? That was the way of previous generations — no disrespect, he says, but don't be like them. Instead, let your actions serve as an endorsement for education and watch the demand rise. For Pharrell, visibility isn't about ego; it's about creating a chain reaction. Your accomplishments, spoken aloud, become proof that education works, and proof creates demand.

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