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George Saunders advice thought and opinion culture and society commencement lit history and literature philosophy

So here’s something I know to be true, although it’s a little corny, and I don’t quite know what to do with it:

What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.

Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded…sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly.

Or, to look at it from the other end of the telescope: Who, in your life, do you remember most fondly, with the most undeniable feelings of warmth?

Those who were kindest to you, I bet.

It’s a little facile, maybe, and certainly hard to implement, but I’d say, as a goal in life, you could do worse than: Try to be kinder.

In his absolutely fantastic Syracuse commencement address on the immense value of kindness, George Saunders echoes Albert Einstein and adds to this year’s most memorable graduation speeches, including Debbie Millman on courage and the creative life, Greil Marcus on the false divide between “high” and “low” culture, Arianna Huffington on success, Joss Whedon on embracing our inner contradictions, Oprah Winfrey on failure and finding your purpose, and Judith Butler on the value of reading and the humanities.
8-1-2013
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