More from Stephen Colbert

Thankfully, dreams can change. If we'd all stuck with our first dream, the world would be overrun with cowboys and princesses.

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Stephen Colbert

Northwestern University Commencement, 2011, 2011

16:24

Video starts at 16:24 — the moment this quote was spoken

The Story Behind This Quote

Colbert subverted the classic commencement advice of 'follow your dream' by confessing that his 25-year-old self's dream was hilariously misguided: he wanted to live alone in a large barren loft apartment with lots of blonde wood, wearing a kimono, with a futon on the floor and a samovar of tea constantly bubbling, doing Shakespeare in the street for homeless people. Instead, he became 'a beardless suburban dad who lives in a house, wears no-iron khakis, and makes Anthony Weiner jokes for a living.' And he loved it. His point was liberating: if you don't achieve your dream, you haven't failed and you're not some loser. But equally important — if you do get your dream, you are not a winner.

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