This past weekend, Denzel Washington delivered a rousing graduation address to Dillard University’s graduating class of 2015 that proved to be one of his best performances ever. He astounded the audience with his eloquence and charisma, demonstrating why he is such an iconic figure in Hollywood as well as on stage. Despite confessing that he had a 1.7 GPA and did not graduate college, the Academy Award winner still evoked admiration from these new graduates. Here are some of his most insightful words:
- Fail big.
“Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big, but remember, dreams without goals, are just dreams. And they ultimately fuel disappointment. I try to give myself a goal every day, sometimes it’s just not to curse somebody out.”
- Money isn’t important in the end.
“You’ll never see a U-Haul behind a hearse. I don’t care how much money you make, you can’t take it with you. It’s not how much you have, it’s what you do with it.”
- Be thankful for everything.
“Say thank you in advance for what’s already yours. True desire in the heart for anything good is God’s proof to you sent beforehand that it’s already yours. When you get it, reach back, pull someone else up. Each one, teach one. Don’t just aspire to make a living, aspire to make a difference.”
- Work smarter, not harder.
“In this text, tweet, twerk world that you’ve grown up in, remember that just because you’re doing a lot more, doesn’t mean you’re getting a lot more done.”
[Related: 6 Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder]
Watch the full speech below:
