CALL ME MAGGIE

August 7, 2013

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

A wonderful graduation speech from George Saunders to the Syracuse University Class of 2013.

Down through the ages, a traditional form has evolved for this type of speech, which is: Some old fart, his best years behind him, who, over the course of his life, has made a series of dreadful mistakes (that would be me), gives heartfelt advice to a group of shining, energetic young people, with all of their best years ahead of them (that would be you).

And I intend to respect that tradition.

via George Saunders’s Advice to Graduates – NYTimes.com.

Published by

Keith “Maggie” Brown

I am a PhD student in Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Texas-Denton. I began my vocation through a nine year apprenticeship with my mentor, Richard M. Owsley. I can be found around Denton troubling students and professors about this and that. A fringe scholar wandering the borderlands between the Academy and the World, I love the hell out of Socrates and Yoda while tending to act like William S. Burroughs and Jaba the Hut. My current projects include studies of the Dào Dé Jing, the intersection of Karl Jaspers’ periechontology with Tarot, and the challenge of queering existential hermeneutics.

Categories: Philosophy as a Way of Life, Whatever

Tags: advice to graduates, Commencement speech, dreadful mistakes, George Saunders, graduation speech, heartfelt advice, New York Times, Old-time music, Syracuse University, tradition

2 responses to ““What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.””

randalldeanscott

August 7, 2013 at 10:36 am

YES.

Reply
1. Keith Wayne Brown
  
  August 7, 2013 at 10:43 am
  
  🙂
  
  Reply

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2 responses to ““What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness.””

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