On April 11, Joe Biden visited Temple University to speak to students and offer lessons in leadership. His speech was genuine, optimistic, and a much-needed reminder for young people to get involved in public life.
1. “I want to thank you for having me, because at a minimum, whether you’re for or against, you’re interested.”
Biden begins his speech complimenting the students at Temple, saying that this generation is the most exceptional group of young people this nation's ever had. Then, he points out that despite the character of our young people, this generation is the least engaged in terms of public life and politics. He encourages young people to be involved in politics and talks about what it really means to be a leader and someone of character.
2. "You can't build a wall high enough to keep out the pollution."
Biden never directly mentions Trump, however, through this reference, he suggests that our country needs to get it's priorities straight and start focusing on the largest threat of all, climate change.
3. "Character is not a consequence of one great dilemma you overcome. Your characters are built on a thousand little things that demonstrate your integrity in a cumulative sense. If you’ll lie to a waiter, you'll lie to me. If you're disrespectful to the shoeshine guy, you'll be disrespectful to me. If your classmate can’t trust your word, nor can your boss...or your spouse."
Biden offers some words of wisdom, emphasizing the fact that the all of the little things people do make them who they are. He says, "Think about how you rationalize the day. Examine your conscience. How many times do you use rationalization to avoid the things you know you shouldn't be doing? It becomes a habit. People with real character don’t do it." He says people must be held accountable for their actions and live the values they preach.
4.“Every single time America has faced a crisis, an existential crisis, it’s been the young people. It sounds strange, but the young people have led the way."
Biden emphasizes the fact that there is nothing special about him or other politicians that make them more capable leaders than the rest of us. Biden encourages young people to be more confident and involved, saying “I believe that so many of you are capable of doing so much more."
5. Biden references Plato, saying, “The penalty good people pay for not being involved in politics is being governed by people worse than themselves.”
*cough* Trump *cough*
6. “Emotional and intellectual intelligence are different commodities. Don’t confuse them."
Biden asks the audience, “How many really academically accomplished people do you know to be among the last people you'd go to if you had a problem? Look for judgment. They are not the same."
7. “Bravery lives in every heart and someday it will be summoned. There’s all times of bravery… Being brave enough to suffer a devastating divorce, the loss of a child, or a serious physical ailment… But moral bravery is rarer than bravery on the battlefield. And you’re all capable."
Biden says that our nation needs brave leaders to lead in the right direction. He says, “In order to change a culture, and ultimately a society, real leaders need to be willing to risk ridicule and prejudice.”
8. "Women hold up half the sky...No nation can lead when leaving behind half its brain power, its value set, its energy, it’s passion. It can’t be done.
9. “Leaders don't just lead through the example of power, they lead through the power of their example."
Biden says it is important for a leader to lead in the best interest of the cause and not out of self-interest. When he speaks about his late son Beau's leadership abilities and character, he says proudly, “My son lived the values he enunciated.”
10. “The history of the journey of the American people is littered with ordinary people doing extraordinary things… One of the reasons I think we’re walking around with our head down so much these days: We’re forgetting who the hell we are. This is America...Let’s own it again.”
Biden ends his speech on an optimistic note, saying that it is our responsibility to change the damaged culture in which we live to the best of our abilities. He says that America has so many things to be proud of and how we must become more involved in politics in order to ensure that our country's future is in the right hands.