Samuel Johnson famously said that we “more often need reminding of the old truths, than introduction of new ones.” But we generally still find ourselves more interested in the new ones anyway, we live in a culture, in a nation, and a world, which tells us that which is new is good. But is novelty what makes something good, is novelty what makes something valuable? Instead of accepting that innovation is the implementation of an idea that has yet to be real, we should consider what ideas are worth being made real.
Do not consider the values of others to be of paramount importance, the paramount, that which is most important, that which arises to the heights, should be something always questioned. In looking at the new, at the innovative, we must ask not whether it is new, but why it is important to us, what ways would it be important to those unlike us. Particularly, when we have privilege, particularly when we have great freedoms and small fears, particularly when we have less reason to wonder without encouragement what values the new things serve.
I do not think it is right to ask you to share my values, I do not think it is right to make you work to build the world that I imagine is right, to shape the world for what I consider better. I do think it is right to ask you to make the world better whatever you really think that means, I know that each of you can and should have an idea of what a better world would be. I do want to ask each of you to have values, have values, those of your parents, have values, those of your church, have values, those with which you decide for yourself to see the world and future. Have at the ready an idea of what is right and wrong, even if you cannot always live up to it. Have values that will inspire you to ask questions about yourself, about your future, about the values of others, because in questioning we make change. Even though we use no stone, no tools, no steel, we build our selves and our future by asking questions. For each of you, whatever you were taught, to break from the sleep-walking that is common, not because you are apathetic, but because so often the world fails to remind you to ask, or indeed punishes people who ask questions.
I leave you with the words of David Foster Wallace, from the Commencment Address of Kenyon College, 2005:
“And the so-called real world will not discourage you from operating on your default settings, because the so-called real world of men and money and power hums merrily along in a pool of fear and anger and frustration and craving and worship of self. Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom all to be lords of our tiny skull-sized kingdoms, alone at the centre of all creation. This kind of freedom has much to recommend it. But of course there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about, [though] much in the great outside world of wanting and achieving.... The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.”
Samuel Johnson famously said that we “more often need reminding of the old truths, than introduction of new ones.” But we generally still find ourselves more interested in the new ones anyway, we live in a culture, in a nation, and a world, which tells us that which is new is good. But is novelty what makes something good, is novelty what makes something valuable? Instead of accepting that innovation is the implementation of an idea that has yet to be real, we should consider what ideas are worth being made real.
Do not consider the values of others to be of paramount importance, the paramount, that which is most important, that which arises to the heights, should be something always questioned. In looking at the new, at the innovative, we must ask not whether it is new, but why it is important to us, what ways would it be important to those unlike us. Particularly, when we have privilege, particularly when we have great freedoms and small fears, particularly when we have less reason to wonder without encouragement what values the new things serve.
I do not think it is right to ask you to share my values, I do not think it is right to make you work to build the world that I imagine is right, to shape the world for what I consider better. I do think it is right to ask you to make the world better whatever you really think that means, I know that each of you can and should have an idea of what a better world would be. I do want to ask each of you to have values, have values, those of your parents, have values, those of your church, have values, those with which you decide for yourself to see the world and future. Have at the ready an idea of what is right and wrong, even if you cannot always live up to it. Have values that will inspire you to ask questions about yourself, about your future, about the values of others, because in questioning we make change. Even though we use no stone, no tools, no steel, we build our selves and our future by asking questions. For each of you, whatever you were taught, to break from the sleep-walking that is common, not because you are apathetic, but because so often the world fails to remind you to ask, or indeed punishes people who ask questions.
I leave you with the words of David Foster Wallace, from the Commencment Address of Kenyon College, 2005:
“And the so-called real world will not discourage you from operating on your default settings, because the so-called real world of men and money and power hums merrily along in a pool of fear and anger and frustration and craving and worship of self. Our own present culture has harnessed these forces in ways that have yielded extraordinary wealth and comfort and personal freedom. The freedom all to be lords of our tiny skull-sized kingdoms, alone at the centre of all creation. This kind of freedom has much to recommend it. But of course there are all different kinds of freedom, and the kind that is most precious you will not hear much talk about, [though] much in the great outside world of wanting and achieving.... The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over in myriad petty, unsexy ways every day.”