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Advice from Kurt Vonnegut
August 4, 2011
Here's to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world.
-L.R. Knost, American author and child-development researcher
One of my favorite authors is Kurt Vonnegut. I especially enjoyed his  commencement address to the graduating class of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Here is some of the advice he bestowed...

  • Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
  • Do one thing every day that scares you.
  • Sing.
  • Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
  • Floss.
  • Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
  • Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
  • Keep your old love letters.
  • Throw away your old bank statements.
  • Stretch.
  • Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
  • Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on.
  • Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
  • Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
  • Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.





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Comments (12)

Displaying 5 of 12 Comments   [ View all ]
Abby Binder · September 13, 2011
United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA, United States


So it really wasn't Kurt Vonnegut's words after all (Exchange Every Day 8/4/11). Sad about the hoax but kudos to Mary Schmich.


http://www.wesselenyi.com/speech.htm

LH · August 09, 2011
United States


It was not Anna Quinlan either. Michelle has it right. It is a hoax, an urban legend, but a wonderful thought provoking poem. A 10 second search is all it takes to verify this is not a Kurt Vonnegut speech.

If you listen to Baz Luhrmann you may have heard this, if not, go to Youtube and search Sunscreen you can hear Baz Luhrmann reciting this very poem/speech/thought.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

Enjoy.

Ryan Cardwell · August 04, 2011
Ivy Academy
Beijing, Beijing, China


Do 10 seconds of research and you will find that this is not Kurt Vonnegut.

Judi Pack · August 04, 2011
United States


Now, this sounds like Kurt Vonnegut!
"Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward."

Michelle Lollock · August 04, 2011
United States


Here's the story as I understand it. The hoax started when journalist Mary Schmich wrote an article about her fantasy commencement speech, which was published in the Chicago Tribune. An unknown prankster sent it out onto the internet with the label "Kurt Vonnegut's Commencement Address at MIT". When Vonnegut read it, he replied "It was quite witty, but not my wittiness." It's still a great quote, though.



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