Neil Gaiman - Inspirational Commencement Speech at the University of the Arts 2012

"People will tolerate how unpleasant you are, if your work is good and you deliver it on time. People will forgive the lateness of your work if it's good and they like you. And you don't have to be as good as everyone else if you're on time and it's always a pleasure to hear from you."

When you realize; he has written novels, children's books, comics, recorded audio books, and wrote 2 episodes of doctor who

"The Moment you are walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your art and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself, that is the moment that you may be starting to get it right." - That's amazing

I met him once getting some books signed. I gushed to him about how his work on making LGBT characters visible, especially the fact the first transwoman I ever read about was in his comics and I knew in my heart she had always been a girl....made me feel seen. Then I said I wanted to be a writer...he shook my hand and said he couldn''t wait to read my work.

He speaks like he writes like the way he changes volumes and emphasis on words he sounds like he is narrating not just talking 

"Leave the world more interesting for your being here."

I never imagined the "professionally replying to email" bit would hit me like a bucket of cold water. I remember watching this when I was in high school, thinking that would never be me. But last year, I looked up from my computer at work, and tried to figure out why I felt so lousy. Why it felt so wrong. One year later, I'm unemployed, and have completed a manuscript I never thought would survive my daydreams. It's a precarious place to be in, but it feels like home. Onto the next step! Thank you, Neil.

I have lived my creative life as this man proposes and I have found in this all the things he says are there

I feel lucky to be alive at the same time as Neil Gaiman.

I feel like he took everything that was going on in my brain-all the doubts and insecurities about art and creativity- worded them beautifully and said them back to me. All I could think of was- he gets me. He gets me. The bit about the message in the bottle is so true. And of course, make good art.

That second to last bit about gatekeepers leaving their gates, in the context of 2012, makes me so damn sad. 7 years later, every path the internet had to offer, every freedom and empowerment it started giving artists all over the world, is now run by giant platforms and their dehumanizing algorithms. It doesn't take back any quality of this insanely good, profound, human speech, but man. I hope the corporate social media age is one that will end soon. I miss the collective excitement over what internet used to make possible for individuals. That said, back to making art !

Great speech. I don't follow this guy's work religiously or anything, but man, what a great speech. :) Whenever I'm doubting myself, I throw this video on, and I'm back on it. He's a very wise man.

Neil Gaiman always talks about a distant mountain.

I love this man so dearly. What an excellent beautiful soul.

This is one of the best speeches I've ever heard.

I don't think this is just for artists, it's for everybody. Everything can be art and if you make a mistake, you did something diffrent from last time. I love the speech! 

best bit "Be wise, because the world needs more wisdom. If you cannot be wise, pretend to be someone who is wise and just behave like they would."

I’ve recently found Neil Gaiman because we’re reading his book on Norse Mythology in language arts class. I’m very glad I’ve found him, and I’m excited to read more of his work.

Neil Gaiman always a pleasure one of this world's brilliant souls who also happens to be one of those humans of immense good will. A treasure ... his books helped me through good times and bad.

This is such an old video but...I'm a high-school senior about to graduate. I have my dream university offer that I feel like I shouldn't have gotten and Neil Gaiman talking about imposter syndrome felt so close to heart. His lessons so worthwhile. I hope I don't forget them in the next four years.