Best-selling author and Professor of English George Saunders G'88 was featured in an episode of The Curiosity Shop podcast titled “AI, Commencement Speeches, and Why Human Thinking Still Matters,” in which the hosts explored why his 2013 address to College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell School graduates remains one of the most powerful graduation speeches.

Delivered in May 2013, Saunders’ speech centered on a simple but profound message: choose kindness. Although the idea itself was not complex, its emotional honesty helped it connect deeply with audiences.

On the podcast, hosts Brené Brown and Adam Grant highlighted a pivotal moment from the speech—an anecdote from Saunders’ childhood about a shy classmate who was often ignored or teased. While Saunders recalls that he was not actively unkind, he continues to regret that he did not do more to support her. That reflection led to what has become the speech’s defining insight, that the greatest regrets in life are failures of kindness.

The hosts emphasized how this idea reframes common notions of success and regret. Rather than focusing on missed achievements or major mistakes, Saunders calls attention to the quieter moments when compassion is withheld. These seemingly small decisions—responding “sensibly, reservedly, mildly” instead of with courage and empathy—can leave the deepest and most lasting impact.

Part of the speech’s enduring influence, Saunders has said, lies in its simplicity. He intentionally avoided academic language, choosing instead to speak plainly and from the heart. This authenticity helped the message resonate widely. The speech later inspired Saunders’ 2014 book Congratulations, by the Way, which expands on the idea that kindness is central to a meaningful life.

As highlighted on The Curiosity Shop, Saunders’ message continues to connect in conversations about leadership, ethics and human connection. More than a decade after it was first delivered, his call to prioritize compassion remains a powerful reminder that the way we treat others may ultimately define a life well lived.