This is Water

David Foster Wallace's 2005 commencement speech at Kenyon.
There are plenty of other videos with this same exact content on KZbin, but I'm certain that this is the one with the highest quality (which is the main reason I am uploading it in the first place [plus my love for the author]). I kept the editing to an absolute minimum and added curated subtitles.
For a textual reference: web.ics.purdue...

[@Brian-os9qj]

Rip DFW, this awesome monologue lives on with brightness for mankind for those that cross it’s path.

[@lyndondary]

Absolutely fearsome. This is the power of living with actual freedom. Excellent.

[@_SPREZZATURA_McGEE_]

Absolutely riveting and sensational. I return to this twice a year, minimum, and have done so for several years. Easily searchable here and always of better quality than the last iteration. THIS IS WATER. THIS IS WATER. THIS IS WATER.☮☯

[@alfredocamba1995]

I'm gonna go remix this right now Akira the Don did it first I'm gonna do it different

[@K.P.LEE4]

✝✝

[@lspag7415]

Ah, Awareness, yes, most important in life, patience too I have realised in my life! Wonderful speech ❤️

[@jamilaosman9574]

Absolutely brilliant...what I wouldn't give to be in the audience listening to this speech!

[@_phildog]

I’ve been confronted by my own selfishness and power and creativity to change my perception. Thank you

[@CentaurPress]

What a human.

[@ThomWA23]

The only thing that is true is that you get to decide how to see it.

[@dmgwjirvrwnhrhwrj]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:08 🐟 *Introduction to the Fish Story* - The commencement speech begins with a parable about two young fish who are unaware of the water they swim in. - Emphasizes the idea that the most obvious and important realities are often challenging to perceive and discuss. 01:15 🎓 *Meaning of Liberal Arts Education* - Discusses the conventional idea that liberal arts education is not about filling up with knowledge but about teaching how to think. - Challenges the notion of feeling insulted by the claim and proposes an alternative perspective on the purpose of liberal arts education. 02:24 🤔 *Education in Thinking: Freedom of Choice* - Explores the concept that education in thinking is more about the choice of what to think about rather than the capacity to think. - Encourages graduates to reflect on their freedom of choice and to consider the significance of what they choose to focus on. 03:52 🔄 *Belief Templates and Personal Choice* - Highlights a story about religious and atheist perspectives, illustrating how the same experience can be interpreted differently based on individual belief templates. - Points out the importance of being aware of personal biases and the origins of individual beliefs. 05:11 🧠 *Arrogance and Certainty* - Addresses the issue of arrogance in both religious and non-religious perspectives, emphasizing the need for humility and critical awareness. - Encourages a less certain and more open-minded approach to one's own interpretations. 06:19 🌐 *Default Setting: Self-Centeredness* - Discusses the default setting of self-centeredness and the challenge of overcoming the belief that one is the absolute center of the universe. - Encourages graduates to recognize and question their natural, self-centered default setting. 08:05 🎓 *Deeper Meaning of Learning How to Think* - Explores the deeper idea behind the cliché of learning how to think, emphasizing the importance of exercising control over one's thoughts. - Connects the concept of learning how to think to the practical aspect of navigating adult life with intention and consciousness. 09:13 ⏳ *Adult Life Realities: Boredom and Routine* - Describes aspects of adult life involving boredom, routine, and frustration, providing a realistic perspective on the challenges graduates may face. - Highlights the significance of making conscious choices in mundane and frustrating situations. 12:30 🛒 *Choosing How to Think in Daily Routines* - Illustrates the impact of choosing how to think during routine activities like grocery shopping, emphasizing the power of conscious decision-making. - Stresses the importance of being aware and making intentional choices in daily life situations. 16:05 🔄 *Empathy and Consideration for Others* - Encourages graduates to consider alternative perspectives during frustrating situations, fostering empathy for others' experiences. - Demonstrates the power of consciously choosing to see the humanity in others and understanding their struggles. 17:56 💰 *Choosing What to Worship* - Discusses the inevitability of worship and the importance of choosing wisely what to worship in life. - Warns about the potential negative consequences of worshiping material things and the self, advocating for a more mindful and intentional approach. 20:51 🌍 *The Real Value of Education: Freedom of Awareness* - Emphasizes the real value of education as awareness, attention, and discipline, rather than mere knowledge. - Encourages graduates to understand the importance of sacrificing for others and being truly free by being conscious of their choices. 21:21 🚿 *The Capital-T Truth: Life Before Death* - Concludes with a reflection on the capital-T Truth: the value of life before death, the essence of a real education, and the awareness of the water that surrounds us. - Encourages graduates to keep reminding themselves of the fundamental truths hidden in plain sight in their daily lives. Made with HARPA AI

[@darillus1]

what a beautiful speech

[@5Gazto]

11:35, "'have a nice day', in a voice that is the voice of absolute death."

[@_SPREZZATURA_McGEE_]

"skull sized Kingdoms"

[@nickmoore7551]

Oh wow, and the mic drop at the end 🤯

[@georgeovitt5443]

I listen to this every year before I attend my school commencement, usually featuring the banalities about success that mean less than nothing. One criticism: this version cuts off the speech before DFW ends it with...."I wish you way more than luck." He was a genius.

[@LivinginCentralNewJersey-ep4bq]

I stumbled upon DFW speech here after reading Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg....

[@codyaimes4354]

This is water, this is water, this is water.

[@sedalia9356]

Thank you. We must remind ourselves and everyone we care about, every day.

[@solracpilino1967]

Esto que dice es realmente muy importante!!!

[@spencerpack128]

Awesome speech!!!

[@buckismzs25]

I wish I had heard that in my twenties! I played it extra loud so my son could hear it, so he would hopefully take something from it. My soon to be ex-wife was listening, too. The hair dryer turned on when she couldn't bear to hear some of the character flaws of her own.

[@KeenX72]

The way you speak about your ex-wife makes me wonder just how much you understood from this speech.

[@crackmiler9127]

Why does almost every other person cut the Eskimo story out of his speech? It seems like a great build up to the rest of the speech.

[@bluecloud6437]

damn atheists

[@chriscross4004]

This is PROVERBS 4,23 !!

[@Juleshelen14]

thank you

[@ianitor]

So true in so many places

[@MegaExtrema]

This is one of the most important things, a smart individuele should be aware of. I say a smart individuele, because the ones gifted not be as smart don't have to think this far and live life as it should. With actual feelings. I believe that an higher understanding of things (iq) , makes it a lot harder to feel what u realy feel without rationelizing it.

[@bhante1345]

Jesus balls man use spell check.

[@kate9341]

Блин, как же мне нравится его голос

[@yellolab09]

Oh, you, this important voice I wish your default mind hadn't even up.

[@jackh127]

I am watching this because Bill Gates recommended it in his AMA January 2023

[@autismandy3050]

you are a cow.

[@jackh127]

@@autismandy3050 moooooo

[@bhante1345]

Oh no, not that guy!

[@user-ul8rh2su3n]

Sad ironic, considering he is more than happy to tell us "this is meat".

[@Werzion]

Where does the thumbnail photo come from? It’s beautiful :)

[@miloschreier4097]

17:45

[@ORGANICsoulJAZZ]

16:03 🤔

[@kimsherlock8969]

❤❤❤🎉

[@DJPLAYNICE]

00:08:26 😯👈🏽

[@5Gazto]

5:50, you know a deep mind is talking to a bunch of undeserving airheads when the crowd laughs at something so earnest and important.

[@badwerds]

Laughter is often an expression of recognition

[@CJScarsbrough]

pretty sure you’re looking at this through an angry frustrated lens

[@TheObscureAlternative]

Yes. Default setting . Viral & compliant

[@farrider3339]

​@@badwerdsmore often laughter is a sign of insecurity. When the nail is being hit on the head. When you're caught on your miserably puny self-centered path while trying to make things work out.

[@notryangosling3065]

This is like, the EXACT kind of thinking he’s getting at not doing in this speech right? Maybe they’re not airheaded, but scared, or nervous of their lives ahead, and looking for anything comforting about the hard truths they’re hearing hear. Maybe they’re more “switched on” than we could imagine

[@trevor4835]

An apologist for big vehicles. Sometimes they’re not in the bigger hurry they truly are just assholes on the road.

[@user-ul8rh2su3n]

And the 2023 award for "Missing the Point" goes to......Trevor4835!

[@bankiey]

Is it just me or is David Cross the bizarro version of David Foster Wallace?

[@henryberrylowry9512]

Natural and hard wired? Toward the individual being the center of the universe? How aren't these themselves historically constructed social relations?

[@farrider3339]

And yet the majority of people prefer staying inside the machine. Running their auto.exec.bat files day in, day out.

[@shibenikvaysyor8309]

The audience's recurring laughter at the very serious, profound points is embarrassing. The level of maturity... (I'm *not* referring to the instances where he makes actual jokes)

[@bhante1345]

Sounds like someone doesn't have a sense of humour.

[@hunteryonce4503]

You forgot to remember that these are humans.. this is water.. 🤣🤣

[@Jakkillah]

Laughter often helps to overcome shame, you little worshiper of profundity.

[@MarkRayBeach]

I’m going to need examples. I call bullshit. I think you’re ESL and arrogant.

[@redballoonluke]

It sounds like you may benefit from listening to those serious, profound points again