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Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Stanford · talk · Watch on YouTube

Productivity & self-improvementTech pioneers & interviews

What it is

Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement address, told through three stories: connecting the dots, love and loss, and death. It includes the calligraphy class and the 'stay hungry, stay foolish' close.

Why Hacker News recommends it

HN returns to it for motivation and perspective, and quotes it constantly, especially the connect-the-dots and remembering-death passages.

  • 9 people recommended it
  • 8 different months
  • 3 strong recommendations
  • first 2009, last 2023

What HN commenters said

  1. “these interviews/speeches have never failed to inspire me.”

    Stay hungry, stay foolish speech inspires the commenter.

    bayer_rggb, 2016-12 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What are inspirational talks you watched which motivates you?”

  2. “Great speech, very worth watching for those who haven’t seen it.”

    Great speech with the quote discussed, starting around 9:10.

    al_borland, 2022-06 · Strong recommendation · in “You have only so much time – are you using it right?”

  3. “Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.”

    Mirror question about last day shapes big life choices.

    modernerd, 2023-02 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What is the best advice you got on any aspect of life?”

  4. “here are some other extraordinary commencement speeches: Steve Jobs”

    Jobs' commencement speech listed among extraordinary graduation talks.

    randy, 2009-04 · Recommendation · in “J.K. Rowling: The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination”

  5. “I do it whenever i lack motivation. It helps me a lot”

    Motivational speech to watch when lacking drive.

    mesuvash, 2011-04 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: I am a depressed student, looking to travel + just be, please advice.”

  6. “Steve Jobs Stanford commencement address”

    Listed among resources revisited repeatedly for inspiration.

    stiff, 2014-01 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: What are the most inspirational blog posts you've ever read?”

  7. “You may also find Steve Jobs' speech helpful, as a reminder that even people like him were just as confused at times.”

    Reminder that even Jobs was confused at times.

    staunch, 2015-12 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: Is 24 too late to start life?”

  8. “I watched this speech some 10 years ago and that quote has stuck with me.”

    Speech whose death quote stayed with commenter for ten years.

    endorphine, 2022-06 · Recommendation · in “Life is not short”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: steve jobs, commencement speech, connect the dots, stay hungry stay foolish, motivation, stanford

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