The 10 most memorable commencement speakers

Did Dr. Seuss, Will Ferrell or Anderson Cooper speak at your graduation? If not, here’s the best of their—and others—commencement speeches.

Do you remember your college commencement speaker?

According to an unscientific poll conducted by Good.com for a recent article, most people don’t remember who spoke at their graduation. Chances are whoever did speak rambled on about “good job,” “good luck,” and something about “the future” in their speech. While those expressions are nice, they are overused and not memorable.

While it may be too late for you to have an engaging, spunky and unforgettable commencement speaker, Good.com put together a list of the “Top 10 commencement speakers you wish you’d had.” Here they are, with a distinctive quote from each one:

1. Steve Jobs, Stanford University, 2005

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

2. Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss), Lake Forest College, 1977

“And as you partake of the world’s bill of fare, that’s darned good advice to follow. Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. And be careful what you swallow.”

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