What we can learn from the most memorable commencement speeches of all time

The annual blitz of commencement speeches is upon us. Steel yourself for pithy aphorisms, sage advice, and a dose of imposter syndrome from the celebrity speakers.

Graduation speeches, delivered to classes either by a student or an invited guest, are not a uniquely American tradition. But nowhere has the practice lodged itself in popular culture quite like the US. Every year the oratorial arms race escalates, with universities one-upping each other, often announcing bookings many months in advance. If a speaker can touch on the zeitgeist, even better. Arguably the most famous doctor in the world right now, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will deliver speeches at no less than four colleges this month alone. With some speeches delivered to new graduates in person and others virtually, this year, like the one before, will be a little different than usual. Either way, who is invited can be as important as what they say, with the caliber of the speaker often viewed as a reflection on the universities themselves.