Conan O'Brien Delivers Dartmouth's Commencement Address
2011 ж. 11 Мау.
4 208 289 Рет қаралды
Conan O'Brien, whom The Washington Post has called "the most intelligent of the late-night comics," delivered the main address at Dartmouth College's 2011 Commencement exercises on Sunday morning, June 12.
Learn more about Dartmouth's 2011 Commencement:
now.dartmouth.edu/2011/06/comm...
Stay Connected to Dartmouth on:
Facebook - / dartmouth
Twitter - / dartmouth
Flickr - www.flickr.com/Dartmouthflickr
Google + - plus.google.com/+Dartmouth
Instagram - / dartmouthcollege
I love that the Secret Service are cracking up in the background.
Hold on Why was there Secret Service at the event? For George Bush?
@@adarshrajbhatt6557 probably
@@adarshrajbhatt6557 The Secret Service protect former US Presidents, their spouses, and children for the rest of their lives. US presidents have the highest security clearances possible (which they maintain even after leaving office) and they are obviously privy to state and military secrets. It would not do to have them, or their families, subject to blackmail, extortion, kidnapping, or any other form of coercion. That would be too great a threat to the state and the body politic. Protecting them protects us all.
You know someone is good when the stone faced Secret Service can't help laughing :-)
@@aptaylor75 It's optional though, and now they have to pay for it, allegedly.
"...Your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound reinvention.."
Damb
Fuck me this almost moved me to tears. I graduate in 3 months and man those last 6 minutes hit me hard as hell. Definitely taking this one home.
This whole speech...Conan is just an absolutely brilliant guy.
@@derspacer2259, same, haha, what are the odds?
Jivan Pal 1 in 24 minutes and 33 seconds
Ah yes, the two languages of the world: English English - Conan O'Brien
XD
Haha!
3:59 women smoking in background at the bottom left your welcome
Just saw the subtitles.. Lol
Oh, I thought the second language was humour🤣
Guy gets on stage, roasts the college for 20 minutes, ends with sincerity, then walks off with a diploma. What a legened
I think my favourite part of the speech is how hard the president laughed at Conan's jokes.
Or the president's bodyguards!
Le I’m mn
@@leora_in_london Yes! I was constantly drawn towards them laughing so hard.
President Kim is having the time of his life
3 Years ago 1K likes and no reply? *This was the reason why i was born, it was for this moment*
to be the first and second reply
@@BlueEyes-WhiteDrag0n I am the third
The fourth has arrived.
I don't know who that is, but Stinky Pete is pretty rad.
"i once sat in your seat, Literally. last night i snuck out here and sat in every seat, i did it to prove a point, i'm not bright and i have a lot of free time" Godly comedic talent right here
"There is nothing more liberating than having your worst fear realized." Now that is profound.
unless you fear going to jail of course
Wonderful speech by not only a comedy legend, but a man of great intelligence and humility.
this is how a speech is supposed to be done. sending a powerful message but also be comedic with it. smart people have good humour
@@DaHatBat I think it also makes the more serious advice he gives stand out more. If you have a somber traditional commencement speech you may lose the message you want to impart. But this method keeps the audience engaged, and when he switches tone, what he says is much more impactful. I think you have to be intelligent to be a great comedian. You have to analyze the world around you and communicate the strangeness of it all to your audience.
Legend? Dude what are you smoking?
The guy who steals jokes without any form of recognition or sense of shame? Probably his meds suppressing his sense of morality.
I dont know about Comedy Legend, smart likable guy.
"in 2000-I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality." --Conan O'Brien
Muhammad Muzammil Shaikh what a great fucking speech
*22:11* Time stamp for this part
Such wisdom
High iqqssssss.. his parents were great intellectuals i wish i had too. I would be successful
chinmay kansara yeah that still depends on how you define "success"
Did he even look at any notes? Wow...articulate doesn't even begin to describe what I just heard.
Barry Ryan there are two teleprompters on either side of the podium, in addition to his notes
hes a stand up dude. hes had decades of practice being articulate and smooth in comedy clubs on stage.
UofRspiders makes sense if this is true, if there isn’t a Teleprompter he’s some kind of genius
@@josh3112 cmone dude. Something like this is always prepared. Preparation can bring you far
Emil Brandwyne true
You know a guy is funny when even The Secret Service is laughing in the background
Yeah I loved watching them
I am 70 years old, and this is the ONLY commencement address I have EVER enjoyed...
Lol, yes but how many have you visited Sir?
So would that make you one of the "old people who just come to these things"?
What the hell, I'm 80 and I liked this commencement the most. Yep, and I've heard half a dozen. I was also a member of Toastmasters, International for about 20 years and have heard, given, read, endured a lot of speeches. Conan did this well.
Steve Mettler Mr. Rogers had a good one
pics or it didn't happen
21:14 "It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique" - Great fucking quote.
Jack0
Jack qqqqqq
It's profound because now, seven years after seeing this clip, and four years after my graduation, I've recently had that very thing happen. That's why I'm blatently gonna rip O'Brien off anytime someone asks my for life advice. What he said is infinitely more valuable than all that 'work hard' or 'follow your dream' bs.
Not just a quote . A fucking quote
@@NilsMcCloud It's very logical because each year your perspective is from an additional year of experience. Much like driving down a road for the first time; at the start you don't know as much about the road and scenery as you know after you have traveled the road.
Conan is better than Carson, Letterman, Leno, Fallon, and Kimmel combined.
maybe not Letterman
and your brainded jed...omg...idiotic moron..
you're funny
Carson is a legend and Conan himself would probably laugh at being compared to him
I would take out Letterman, Carson and Leno.
“So late last night, I began.” Truer words have never been spoken.
Stinky Pete is cheesin' so hard
I was kinda annoyed that I didn't get to hear Stinky Pete talk. He seemed like a cool dude!
@@willvr4 why do Mary cans wear scarves backwards?
Wow, Conan never fails to amaze me. What a speech. Barely looking at notes. Fantastic!
I officially like this comment, but I'm not gonna be the guy to mess up 69 ; )
I think there are two TelePrompter
@@WisamSafi1978 they re light reflectors for the camera.
Nah those two are teleprompters : kzhead.info/sun/ibh9Za6uaGRrpqc/bejne.html
He wrote it last night so it's probably still fresh in his memory. lol
20 min of jokes and 1 min of rly rly deep intense introspective seriousness
The perfect balance
This made me think. It's true, this is the perfect balance in speeches. Speeches that harp on about ideals often lose their power as time goes on and the lack of a central thought eventually tells the brain and heart to forget it. Conan's speech is effective because the laughter eases the mind and makes it more receptive to the deep thought that comes at the last part, and the jokes lighten the heart and prepare it for the load of the final message. And so while the 2011 graduates may not remember all the jokes he said, that one last message about failure will stay with them.
There are seriousness in those jokes,,, "Deal with it"
If you only saw them as jokes, then you missed the point of them. Read between the lines and you'll find the seriousness.
"Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen."
Probably the most beautiful speech I've ever witnessed. Conan, I salute you.
themightychickens barbarian conan
"...I told graduates not to be afraid to fail. and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity and with clarity comes conviction and true originality. " I love this (and many othesr) quote.
how does conviction come from clarity? and how does that lead to originality? makes no sense.
Noe Eon Easy peasy: When you can clearly read the instructions on a box of brownie mix, you will know how they ought to be made. Yet, if you have no instructions, but are convinced the recipe should incorporate creamed corn, something wholly original will surely follow.
When you work through your disappointment, you are likely to gain clarity in your life goals. And when you gain that clarity, you are likely to gain renewed conviction to achieve your new goals. And through all of this, you will forge an original path, and a path that is uniquely yours.
@@noeeon9910 Conviction: goals and direction that have deep meaning to you, "I get the picture"! IE finding ways to get things done with or for people even if you find them obnoxious, because the results are what's important. The path YOU choose is yours and original.
He moment I read this is the moment he actually says it in the video. That’s crazy. Maybe life is telling me something
Why is there an English caption named "English (auto generated)" and "English - Conan O'Brien" 😂😂
Deyone Jackson I was just about to say that lol
Wth
🤣🤣🤣🤣
The "Conan O'brien" is one that is provided by the channel. If you notice the caption is generated in advance in contrast to the auto where it gets generated as he speaks
conan has his own version of the english language 😂😂😂
I've ran out of Conan remotes and I got here. First minute and I'm already hooked. Awesome speech.
Same🔥🔥🔥
"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can be a catalyst for profound re-invention." Wow. Smart words.
👋
Absolutely incredible speech. Funny but also serious at times. Conan is brilliant at what he does.
Edward hg
Thank you
Sort of incredible the way he slowly almost impercetibly transitioned from jokes to seriousness.
His ability to balance lighthearted jokes with profound insights is truly remarkable. Conan's speech not only entertains the audience but also imparts valuable life lessons that resonate with graduates and viewers alike. His message about embracing failure and learning from it is particularly inspiring. Conan's own experiences in the entertainment industry serve as a powerful reminder that setbacks and disappointments can lead to personal growth and unexpected opportunities.
One of the very best commencement speeches I have ever heard.
Best moment: 9:27 "And Penn, Columbia, and Cornell, well, frankly, who gives a shit?" And then all these old people onstage just bust out laughing like there's no tomorrow, and you know, YOU KNOW, that at least some of them went to or taught at those schools....
TheOrangeneck 9:27
It’s called appreciating jokes even if they are directed towards you
I went to Columbia and it was still funny as hell😂
@@haotianxie6684 likewise from Cornell
I can’t believe this speech got ANY downvotes. This was an amazing commencement speech. Funny, and also as real as it gets.
Some people just want the world to burn.
Some people probably don't like it because they think he was making *too many* jokes.
I was probably Jay Leno. Pissed he didn't get invited to speak.
There are an amazing number of curmudgeons in the world and most of them seem to watch KZhead. Their down votes are the equivalent of yelling, "Get off my lawn!!!"
Now it has none
I always thought he was funny, but this was better than any standup performance. Hilarious and brilliant. Everyone behind him was dying. Ended with pearls of wisdom. Bravo!
They lived
People who hate attending these events will definitely come just to see conan.
being unemployed and having no idea which path to go this speech is what I need right now
Panera Bread is still hiring
"You know, New Hampshire's such a special place: when I arrived, I took a deep breath of this New England air and thought 'Wow, I'm in the state that's next to the state where Ben & Jerry's ice cream is made.'" Lol, when I came to Dartmouth for my sister's Master's graduation, that is literally what I thought!!
"I did it to make a point: I'm not bright, and I have a lot of free time" had me dying
Pretty sure Dartmouth knew what it was getting when they invited Conan. XD
I think anyone who has gone through a failure of any kind should hear this. His serious segment at the end was profound, touching, and spoke to my soul. I've been waiting for someone to say something like this, but none have come close to this eloquence. I shouldn't expect anything less from Conan anyways!
He is a truly special and important man.
To have heard his speech today, 7 years after graduating, I've never felt more alive and calmed by "it's okay if what you perceived 4 years ago, might not be what is to become". I have been telling that to myself, from the moment I came across the assurance last years. I feel a little safer than usual, than before, than ever. The only constant is change.
"There are few things in life more liberating than having your worst fear realized" damn, I need to remember that forever...
"your path at 22 is not necessarily the same path when you are 32" spot on
Conan is a comedic genius! Every line is carefully crafted to mix humor, sincerity and lightheartedness !
❤
I rewatched this so many times
Thank you KZhead algorithm. Awesome recommend. Would never have searched this great speech.
Seriously. Wondering what caused it to pop up...
This is probably one of the best commencement speeches of all time. It entertains and inspires while also being pragmatic and realistic about what the future holds for the graduates.
"But the point is this: It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can be a catalyst for profound re-invention." That's very profound.
"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique." Powerful and true!
Great speech! Conan manages to be funny, sometimes hilarious, give good and encouraging yet original advice, and talk a fair amount about himself without making the speech essentially about himself. That's pretty impressive. I'd say this is someone who truly earned his honorary degree. Thanks, Conan!
Wow.. It was so hilarious and so awesome speech.
I got chills at 21:25, what a beautifully articulate man, a comedic genius
"Way back in the 1940s there was a very, very funny man named Jack Benny. He was a giant star, easily one of the greatest comedians of his generation. And a much younger man named Johnny Carson wanted very much to be Jack Benny. In some ways he was, but in many ways he wasn't. He emulated Jack Benny, but his own quirks and mannerisms, along with a changing medium, pulled him in a different direction. And yet his failure to completely become his hero made him the funniest person of his generation. David Letterman wanted to be Johnny Carson, and was not, and as a result my generation of comedians wanted to be David Letterman. And none of us are. My peers and I have all missed that mark in a thousand different ways. But the point is this: It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention."
Yes well done... that's what he said you clever clever person 👍👍
Thanks for quoting it. Good quotes from mr O’Brien.
This is an amazing quote, and nearly brought me to tears when I first heard it. His speech was funny, beautiful, and honest.
@@guyfromoc9107 Yea. "It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique" is probably one of the most profound things that I have ever heard.
He's not only hilarious, butt he's a really gifted speaker actually. His diction, pace and volume were superb. I just enjoyed listening to his address.
20:00 so funny that the bodyguards of Pres. Bush Sr. laugh at the hotel shootout joke
YourSELFISH No not really mate.....
Whoever says that its unprofessional, who cares ; hes a comedian and he hit his point of failure and success. Just because he had fun and delivered an entertaining speech doesnt mean its unprofessional
Because, real life is the same...sometimes you are hilarious, sometimes you are liked, sometimes you are not, and sometimes you hit and sometimes you fail...welcome to life, and welcome to a wonderful journey!!!!!
nobody said that this is unprofessional, but if anyone does I'll make sure to personally beat the hell out of them (not actually don't wanna get arrested)
Better than other speeches that can be interchanged with the million of other carbon copies you can find recorded on the web. It wasn't boring, kept your interest, and with the comedy more likely to be remembered for the true facts he stated.
Yeah, well no one said that... and if someone did, there’s like only 2 of them. Stop making shit up to gain attention.
@@mensrea1251 Yeah Conan is really unprofessional in this speech. Where did my last comment go with the 200 likes on it? Must have gotten deleted 😐😑😶😲
This is the third time I’ve watched this in the past 8 years. And it is still so incredibly good. Conan is a wonderful speaker. Hilarious, and so moving. I love this speech. “Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get, but if you work hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.” I watched him say that live on his last show when I was 18 and it will always be with me.
I wonder how many graduates attending here, as they got older and went through life's ups and downs, came back to this speech at some point and watched it again - only this time being able to truly relate to what he was saying. (Oh, and watching the Secret Service cracking up in the background was hilarious.)
After 12 years, watched this again. Still golden.
Conan is just another level of great. Smart, witty, funny, and genuine.
This is my fave commencement speech. I come back to his message time and time again. "It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention." Amen 🙏
Hi, I'm David by name and I'm sure we can be great friends if you give me a chance. Are you interested in having me as your friend? I live alone and sometimes feel lonely. I would love to have someone to talk to and get to know better. Greetings 🇮🇹
What an absolutely spectacular speech.
Extremely intelligent.
I'm just glad to be alive at the same time as one of the greatest comedians of all time. Conan is severely underrated because of how he acts but those of us who understand his genius know how funny he is and the fact he graduated from Harvard makes him stand alone from the rest looking up at him. Soo many good quotes from this commencement speech and you could tell when he got serious his demeanor changed and made me really listen to his wisdom.
Some genuinely inspiring quotes that were a huge relief to hear: 19:37 21:14 21:27 22:18
Conan is a real class act! I was working as a grip on a tour he performed in Seattle. After the show he came down from his dressing room and thanked us all for a wonderful show.
What is a "grip"?
Surprise, surprise - he actually had something serious to say. He saved the beef to he end. Don't get me wrong, enjoy the beginning half. But the end will fill you even more.
"There are few things more liberating in this life than having your worst fear realized" 19:35
Should be mandatory viewing for parents and children alike. Powerful advice, sage from experience, and absolutely brilliant comedy.
I had pretty much become fed up of watching Conan...saturated to the core...is what it is...but I just saw this speech and gained enormous respect and admiration for this man in an instant...a trully remarkable speech that will stick for good..
@mother66 yes and bugger you
B
What a brilliant commencement speech. I’ve watched it several times and never fail to marvel at his talent.
How can you not feel inspired after a speech as hard-hitting as that? Filled with so much compassion, yet resolute too, cutting the strings from past failures and filled with the unlimited potential of a blossoming future. It almost brings a tear to my glass eye! I have so much more Respect for Conan now. [He hit the ball out of the park with:- "It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique" ]
"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us...". That's one of the most accurate, most profound, and most generally-applicable statements I think I've ever heard.
Incredible line
Having had the fortune to work with Conan a few months back, this speech really sums up what every person out there should realise. Things happen out in life, completely of left field, that you would NEVER had dreamed of happening. Conan is an inspiration.
I've watched Conan for 20 years and he's the real deal..very funny and original..
this was recommended so i clicked it to watch it while i eat.. i thought i’ll just laugh at the jokes but i ended up crying a little at the end. im graduating next year, and i’ve been so anxious about my career path and what he said touched my soul. the kids who knew exactly what they wanted to be scared the shit out of me, didn’t expect to have a profound realisation while i eat, i love this guy
I've watched this about 10 times now, love Conan he is such an inspiration man.
ive now gained a lot of respect for Dartmouth
This and Steve Jobs' commencement speech at Stanford in 2005 are the two best commencement speeches ever. The inspiration these speeches deliver is just astounding.
"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It's not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can become a catalyst for profound re-invention."
2018 and i lost count of how many times i watched this..still the best speech ever.
Graduated in 2021 after a harrowing college experience. I hope he knows what an inspiration this speech was. Thanks Conan.
The only disappointing thing about this video is I know I'm not gonna get a commencement as meaningful as the one I've internalized from this video.
What incredible writing. What an incredible writer Conan O' is. Above and beyond everything else. The fact that Conan's "Gone Yard" on Life. i.e. TOOK THE MIKE. etc etc etc Makes Conan one of our really, really special people. Saw Conan on Montana (Brentwood) a few years back. Same gracious person on Montana - as Conan is right here. ...
What a legend he is. First time I hear him open up and it made me cry!!!
"Your path at 22 will not necessarily be your path at 32 or 42, one's dream constantly evolving, rising and falling, changing course." Mr Conan
My English teacher during my senior year of high school (2012) showed us this speech. This is truly my high school and college commencement speech.
I didn't know he was a Harvard graduate. I enjoyed the whole speech. At age 46 I am settled where I will probably finish my career as a lab tech. I had bigger ambiguous dreams when I was in college. But when you don't have the conviction or the willingness to sacrifice a few years of your life, the reality will hit you hard when you graduate from the college. Being in school and studying your butt off is the easiest thing one can do in life. It will pay off when you graduate. Immediate gratification is the worst enemy...
A fantastic commencement speech and a great example of how you can grow from your mistakes.
Brilliant speech, and I have a newfound respect for Dartmouth for having Conan come to deliver it.
When Conan said your dreams will change as you aged - I felt that. Great speech!
"It is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique." That's deep.
"It is our failure, to become our perceived ideal, that ultimately defines us, and makes us unique." "There is nothing more liberating than having your worst fear realized." "I told graduates to not be afraid to fail, and I still believe that. But today I tell you that whether you fear it or not, disappointment will come. The beauty is that through disappointment you can gain clarity, and with clarity comes conviction and true originality." - This just proves that Conan is really a smart , genius, kind person who chose, knows, and loves to act like a fool for a career and to make people happy.
Conan's sincere shared advice to us: "Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen."
Ahaha Professor Kim is adorable!
It’s 1 am, I have a trial in the morning, and I’m watching this? Great job Conan and Dartmouth. I visited this summer with my daughter. What a privilege it will be to one day hear a commencement like this in person.
Been listening to his podcast and today I came across this. This guy really is a great one, and just joyful and fun and so intelligent.
So genuine and heartfelt. Good advice. I wished i knew more about the projects he talked about.
As a valedictorian, a graduate with a Ivy League degree ( that too magna cum laude ) and as a successful personality in showbiz, he sure does undersells himself as not brilliant. Love Conan's humour
I can't believe i watched the whole thing,
Haha yeah I went in with 30 seconds to spare, now I'm hungry and late for dinner! :)
I come back and listen to this occasionally just to remember there’s always going to be forks in the road, as much as you plan, be flexible, be adaptable… and do it with a laugh
My grandfather is a Dartmouth graduate and was a proud fan of the Dartmouth Indians, now the Mean Green He would have loved this speech as did I! Conan is a true treasure and I hope to see him in Hanover at the next Harvard v. Dartmouth football game.