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“Odd as it may seem, I am my remembering self, and the experiencing self, who does my living, is like a stranger to me.”

“I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.”

In general, people are not drawn to perfection in others. People are drawn to shared interests, shared problems, and an individual’s life energy. Humans connect with humans. Hiding one’s humanity and trying to project an image of perfection makes a person vague, slippery, lifeless, and uninteresting.

“New college graduates often ask me for career advice. AI, energy, and biosciences are promising fields where you can make a huge impact. It’s what I would do if starting out today. Looking back on when I left college, there are things I wish I had known. E.g. Intelligence takes many forms. It is not one-dimensional. And not as important as I used to think. I also have one big regret: When I left school, I knew little about the world’s worst inequities. Took me decades to learn. You know more than I did when I was your age. You can start fighting inequity, whether down the street or around the world, sooner. Meanwhile, surround yourself with people who challenge you, teach you, and push you to be your best self. Like Warren Buffet, I measure my happiness by whether people close to me are happy and love me, and by the difference I make for others. If I could give each of you a graduation present, it would be this– the most inspiring book I’ve ever read: The Better Angels of Our Nature. Steven Pinker shows how the world is getting better. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. This is the most peaceful time in human history. That matters because if you think the world is getting better, you want to spread the progress to more people and places. It doesn’t mean you ignore the serious problems we face. It just means you believe they can be solved. This is the core of my worldview. It sustains me in tough times and is the reason I love my work. I think it can do the same for you. This is an amazing time to be alive. I hope you make the most of it.”

“A good healer is the one who has survived destruction and makes that experience a reason to be a part of someone’s restoration.”

“You try so much to fit in that you don’t realize there’s so much space to be freely, carelessly, and authentically you. Be proud of your uniqueness. The ones who will genuinely love you will accept you for anything you are, and it will be like a breath of fresh air.”