Well, what is essential about you? And who are those who have helped you become the person that you are? Anyone who has ever graduated from a college, anyone who has ever been able to sustain a good work, has had at least one person and often many who have believed in him or her. We just don't get to be competent human beings without a lot of different investments from others.

Commencement Address at Dartmouth College June 9th, 2002 and Commencement Address at Middlebury College May, 2001