You are what you choose

Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice.

Gifts are easy -- they’re given after all. Choices can be hard.

You can seduce yourself with your gifts if you’re not careful, and if you do, it’ll probably be to the detriment of your choices.

How will you use your gifts? What choices will you make?

Will inertia be your guide, or will you follow your passions?
Will you follow dogma, or will you be original?
Will you choose a life of ease, or a life of service and adventure?
Will you wilt under criticism, or will you follow your convictions?
Will you bluff it out when you’re wrong, or will you apologize?
Will you guard your heart against rejection, or will you act when you fall in love?
Will you play it safe, or will you be a little bit swashbuckling?
When it’s tough, will you give up, or will you be relentless?
Will you be a cynic, or will you be a builder?
Will you be clever at the expense of others, or will you be kind?

Source: Remarks by Jeff Bezos, as delivered to the Class of 2010 (Baccalaureate, May 30, 2010)

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