George Saunders, a renowned American writer is a graduate of Syracuse University. So it is no surprise when the University asked him to give the convocation speech to the graduating class of 2013. George delivered an eye-opening and touching speech. The speech is speaking to the graduates, but also to everyone in attendance. It is not your average speech on how to be successful in the real world, but instead, it is how to live a happier life. Saunders reminds us that kindness to others goes a long way. He sheds light on life’s biggest regret, no swimming in a river full of monkey feces, but a missed opportunity. The speech is definitely worth an ear. George Saunders begins is speech is a simple advice, ask an older person what they regret …show more content…
When you think of selfishness, you think about the kid who grew up as an only child. Someone who is selfish is stingy, narrow-minded and self-centered. Saunders calls selfishness a sickness. Sadly, there is no doctor that can prescribe us anything. Only we ourselves can heal us. He mentions the three different type’s selfishness that we all act on. The first type is that our story is the main and only story in the universe. Subconsciously, we might believe that when we closed our eyes the world stops moving until we wake up. This innate thought has crossed each of our minds, even in the faintest way. Just wondering what another person is doing is hard to comprehend. Second, we’re separate from the universe. Everything acts in its own accord and as its own entity. For example, “dogs, swing sets, low hanging clouds, etc.…” Then third he mentioned, “We’re permanent”. Basically, death is a very real thing. Thankfully Saunders redeems himself by giving each of us hope. As we get older, we become less selfish and more loving. He predicts that the older we become, the more replaced by love we will be. At least then there is more to look forward to when you become old than half priced lunch at Quiznos. Rest assured, if you feel like your picture is in the dictionary for the definition of selfish, Saunders says there is a cure. “Be a good and proactive and even somewhat desperate patient on your own …show more content…
It is the cure, the inevitable end, and savior in the speech. After his biggest regret, as well as the plague of the world, selfishness, the key to life is a kindness. Kindness can cure the selfishness that afflicts us all. Kindness is what is remembered. It is also the inevitable end. According to Saunders, when you get old, you also get tired of being selfish, and hateful. You are then consumed by kindness and love. Although it sounds easy, Saunders says it is hard. It 's easy to be kind to people you like, to innocent objects. But it is a difficult challenge to be kind, to others that you might not like or vice versa. Expanding kindness to all things is the trickiest part. But it can be done. Saunders mentions the most respectable names in history as an example of kindness like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Shakespeare. Kindness is what saves each of us. Each of us can recall the random act of kindness that was done to each of us. Well, we can each return the
The quote is, “I made up my mind that, small as I was, I might as well die there, and if I did, maybe I’d be known. ”(78) At this point in the book a theme I have picked up on is that you do not have to be selfish and you will learn from your mistakes. A major idea seems to be that children will be children and violence is not always the solution to problems. Most of the characters in the book so far are people who taught him something or children that he would play
The reason I would consider his actions selfish is because, he wasn’t considering how those who cared about him felt about his mission to leave
George Saunders’ speech to the graduating Syracuse class of 2013 emphasized the message of being kind to one another. He made a point of his own personal experience saying that one thing he regrets is not being kinder to a young girl who was picked on for her habits. This story leads into Saunders’ message about being more mindful of others and their feelings. Saunders’ message to the students who are just about to entire the “real world” is to introduce kindness and compassion. He believed that while mankind is born with a sense of selfishness and the notion the we individually are the center of the universe kindness can change that.
The great Richard Bach once said “Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness. Listen to it carefully.” Often people overlook the fact that their conscience is telling them that they are selfish, but it is up to them to fix it. In his novel, The Wednesday wars, Gary Schmidt highlights the dangers of being selfish and self-centered through the changes of Holling Hoodhood.
Kindness is often overlooked in society yet it still manages to hold a great deal importance in the lives of many. Kindness is an empowering emotion that can change perspectives and alter destinies. In The Glass Roses by Alden Rowan the true importance of kindness is personified throughout the story. In the story Stephen is encapsulated by the kindness of his fellow worker and greatly impacts Stephan’s ability to determine his own destiny. The Glass Roses shows that individuals tend to hide their true emotions in order to gain respect from their peers however kindness, once truly unveiled can play a huge role in determining ones destiny.
George Saunders posits the notion that, in life, it is necessary to be kind to others and diminish selfish needs in order to elucidate that while it is okay to strive for success, the final product of a life well-lived is always a collaborative effort of you and those you encountered along the way.
Living in a modern world many people get well educated and are making good changes in the world. But are we forgetting something in our busy society? George Saunders talks about the importance of kindness in his commencement address. Saunders is an American writer and university professor who made the commencement address at Syracuse University in New York state in may 2013. This essay will focus on the style of Saunders’ language and on the values he advocates in his speech.
To Scott Russell Sanders, the minds of individuals are slowly destroying our planet. Sanders contradicts with Rushdie’s positive outlook on “people who root themselves in ideas rather than places.” As Rushdie sees nothing but hope, Sanders sees nothing but fear and doubt. Scott Russell Sanders utilized various forms of strategy to effectively address his response to Salman Rushdie’s essay and the reasoning behind his stance.
The idea of being equal with all other members of the community was appealing to many people. “He replied, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Doc. A) Jesus told man to treat others with mercy, the idea of being a good person, and the value it held in Jesus’s eyes.
So constantly being kind and showing those kind emotions can show your character and build a reputation that you can uphold. In his quote, Elie Wiesel stated “Even on the edge of the abyss, it is possible to dream exalted dreams of compassion.” I believe he talked about
A good example of selfishness that we can see in this book is when Kemmerich dies. When he dies, the first thing Muller thinks about is taking his boots. “When Kemmerich is dead it will be too late. Therefore
Selfish in the way that he believed that he could take that war and make movie scenes out of it. Giving the impression as if he does not see the gravitate of how that one dreaming mistake can have on someone’s
Taylor Scuorzo d Rhetorical Analysis 3/20/23 Rhetorical Analysis Doing benevolent and selfless things for others can occasionally lead to adverse results. In his enlightening and illuminating commencement address given at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on May 19, 2018, Jason Reynolds emotionally persuades and informs the graduates at the college through the use of anecdotes and metaphors to show that ignoring the significant problems of the world will not help us fix them. To strengthen his speech, Reynolds uses past personal experiences and the comparison of objects to others to help prove the theme portrayed throughout the speech.
There are many good and bad attractions a human can have. Being selfish is definitely a horrible quality to possess. As a human not having consideration for the feelings of other people around you is troubling. In the novel, As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner, Anse and Dewey Dell’s true identity is finally revealed after a mournful death in the Burden household. Focusing on their mother/wife's final wish, to get buried in Jefferson, was not their main concern.
Being able to decide for ourselves what we are compassionate about shows who we really are. When we are compassionate about something, our actions follow right along with it. As mentioned in the text, “Compassion is the root no less of justice than of loving-kindness; but it is more clearly evidenced in the latter than in the former” (Schopenhauer,