7th June, 2006
Cynic
Now will saying “yes†get you in trouble at times? Will saying “yes†lead you to doing some foolish things? Yes it will. But don’t be afraid to be a fool. Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying “yes†begins things. Saying “yes†is how things grow. Saying “yes†leads to knowledge. “Yes†is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say “yes.†– Stephen Colbert at the 2006 Knox College Commencement Address
Hearing this now, older and wiser as I am (please hold your laughter until after my thought is finished), I wish I had heard these words at my college graduation. However, stepping back into time, I know that as a recent college graduate, I would have most likely dismissed these words as nonsense since I was already knew how the world worked. I hope that these kids are more open-minded at this point in their lives than I was.
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