--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Commencement oratory must eschew anything…" description: "\"Commencement oratory must eschew anything that smacks of partisan politics, political preference, sex, religion or unduly firm opinion. Nonetheless, th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_commencement_commencement-oratory-must-eschew-anythin_1785235.png" --- # Commencement oratory must eschew anything that smacks of… ![“Commencement oratory must eschew anything that smacks of partisan politics, political preference, sex, religion or unduly firm opinion. Nonetheless, there must be a speech: Speeches in our culture are the vacuum that fills a vacuum.” quote by John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_commencement_commencement-oratory-must-eschew-anythin_1785235.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_commencement_commencement-oratory-must-eschew-anythin_1785235.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bf/john-kenneth-galbraith-643_commencement_commencement-oratory-must-eschew-anythin_1785235.png) > “Commencement oratory must eschew anything that smacks of partisan politics, political preference, sex, religion or unduly firm opinion. Nonetheless, there must be a speech: Speeches in our culture are the vacuum that fills a vacuum.” [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speeches should avoid partisan or controversial topics and instead fill a cultural need for shared reflection. **In simple terms:** Avoid divisive content in formal speeches. Key Takeaway Focus on universal values. Themes public speaking politics culture Mood thoughtful academic Type ceremonial educational When to use this quote - graduation ceremonies - political rallies - corporate events - community meetings Key Concepts rhetoric social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How can a speech be engaging without controversy? - What universal themes resonate across audiences? A Different Perspective Avoiding all controversy may limit relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commencement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commencement/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Graduation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graduation/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Oratory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oratory/) [Partisan politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/partisan-politics/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Preference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preference/) [Public speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-speaking/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speeches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speeches/) ## Related quotes > [Speeches in our culture are the vacuum that fills a vacuum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/speeches-in-our-culture-are-the-vacuum-that-fills-a-vacuum/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [The commencement speech is not, I think, a wholly satisfactory manifestation of our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-commencement-speech-is-not-i-think-a-wholly-satisfactory/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Partisan politics has no place in the classroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-cole/partisan-politics-has-no-place-in-the-classroom/) [Juan Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-cole/) > [North Carolina wants its judges to be fair and impartial, and partisan politics has no place on the judges' bench.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/north-carolina-wants-its-judges-to-be-fair-and-impartial-and-partisan/) [Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/) > [“Truth becomes a relative and disputable term in the alternate reality of partisan politics”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-rejebian/truth-becomes-a-relative-and-disputable-term-in-the-alternate-reality/) Michael Rejebian > [“The fundamental question pertaining to voting ethics which Christians must ask at this presidential election is this: "What are the binding principles established by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-w-phillips/the-fundamental-question-pertaining-to-voting-ethics-which-christians/) [Douglas W. Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-w-phillips/) > [I'm not questioning that Donald Trump won the election. But there's nothing more sacred than our democratic process in the United States. And we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-mccaskill/i-m-not-questioning-that-donald-trump-won-the-election-but-there-s/) [Claire McCaskill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-mccaskill/) > [I think the Senate ought to realize that I have to have about me those in whom I have confidence; and unless they find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/i-think-the-senate-ought-to-realize-that-i-have-to-have-about-me/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [To be locked into partisan politics doesn't permit you to think clearly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/to-be-locked-into-partisan-politics-doesn-t-permit-you-to-think/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited me to breakfast on the eighteenth. Five days before, she had issued a news release saying, “The president’s strategy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-invited-me-to-breakfast-on-the-eighteenth/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [I have never been driven by partisan politics, only a desire to better the lives of my constituents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-van-drew/i-have-never-been-driven-by-partisan-politics-only-a-desire-to-better/) [Jeff Van Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-van-drew/) > [The people in Iowa know that Washington isn't working. It's devolved into partisan politics and a lot of gridlock and obstruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patty-judge/the-people-in-iowa-know-that-washington-isn-t-working-it-s-devolved/) [Patty Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patty-judge/) > [When it comes to partisan politics, everyone is a hypocrite. And all they care about is whether it hurts or helps them ... Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/when-it-comes-to-partisan-politics-everyone-is-a-hypocrite-and-all/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [First, I think more Americans need to declare their independence from partisan politics on both sides. The more that Americans declare their independence, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-avlon/first-i-think-more-americans-need-to-declare-their-independence-from/) [John Avlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-avlon/) > [“The president and his subordinates have willfully undermined and prejudiced the rights of the American people to equal protection under the law and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-president-and-his-subordinates-have-willfully-undermined-and/) [Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/) ## More by John Kenneth Galbraith > [Getting on the cover of TIME guarantees the existence of opposition in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/getting-on-the-cover-of-time-guarantees-the-existence-of-opposition/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Technology means the systematic application of scientific or other organized knowledge to practical tasks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/technology-means-the-systematic-application-of-scientific-or-other/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [“Men can labor to make sense out of single steps toward the goal without ever pausing to reflect that the goal itself is ludicrous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/men-can-labor-to-make-sense-out-of-single-steps-toward-the-goal/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/consumer-wants-can-have-bizarre-frivolous-or-even-immoral-origins-and/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [That one never need to look beyond the love of money for explanation of human behavior is one of the most jealously guarded simplification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/that-one-never-need-to-look-beyond-the-love-of-money-for-explanation/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Agriculture is one economic activity that does not obey the laws of demand and supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/agriculture-is-one-economic-activity-that-does-not-obey-the-laws-of/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [If we were not in Vietnam, all that part of the world would be enjoying the obscurity it so richly deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/if-we-were-not-in-vietnam-all-that-part-of-the-world-would-be/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Washington is a place where men praise courage and act on elaborate personal cost-benefit calculations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/washington-is-a-place-where-men-praise-courage-and-act-on-elaborate/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [World War II revealed two of the enduring features of the Keynesian Revolution. One was the moral difference between spending for welfare and spending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/world-war-ii-revealed-two-of-the-enduring-features-of-the-keynesian/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Money is what fueled the industrial society. But in the informational society, the fuel, the power, is knowledge. One has now come to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/money-is-what-fueled-the-industrial-society-but-in-the-informational/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [While it will be desirable to achieve planned results, it will be even more important to avoid unplanned disasters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/while-it-will-be-desirable-to-achieve-planned-results-it-will-be-even/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [A bad book is the worse that it cannot repent. It has not been the devil's policy to keep the masses of mankind in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/a-bad-book-is-the-worse-that-it-cannot-repent-it-has-not-been-the/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Genius is a rising stock market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/genius-is-a-rising-stock-market/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Mr. David Stockman has said that supply-side economics was merely a cover for the trickle-down approach to economic policy—what an older and less elegant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/mr-david-stockman-has-said-that-supply-side-economics-was-merely-a/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [Inventions that are not made, like babies that are not born, are rarely missed. In the absence of new developments, old ones may seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/inventions-that-are-not-made-like-babies-that-are-not-born-are-rarely/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) [Explore all 434 John Kenneth Galbraith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) ## More Commencement quotes > [En Ma Fin Est Ma Commencement - In my end is my beginning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippa-gregory/en-ma-fin-est-ma-commencement-in-my-end-is-my-beginning/) [Philippa Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippa-gregory/) > [The closing period of the fifteenth century witnessed the slow but sure increase of the churches of the Brethren. Although far from being unmolested,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-hall-gillett/the-closing-period-of-the-fifteenth-century-witnessed-the-slow-but/) Ezra Hall Gillett > [The whole point of a commencement speech is to say something encouraging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-druckerman/the-whole-point-of-a-commencement-speech-is-to-say-something/) [Pamela Druckerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-druckerman/) > [I never expected to join the ranks of commencement speakers, especially at my alma mater. I had a tough time there, left eagerly, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-ruhle/i-never-expected-to-join-the-ranks-of-commencement-speakers/) [Stephanie Ruhle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-ruhle/) > [Delight is the secret. Learn of pure delight and thou shalt learn of God. What then was the commencement of the whole matter? Existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/delight-is-the-secret-learn-of-pure-delight-and-thou-shalt-learn-of/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [The year 1826 was remarkable for the commencement of one of those fearful droughts to which we have reason to believe the climate of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-sturt/the-year-1826-was-remarkable-for-the-commencement-of-one-of-those/) [Charles Sturt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-sturt/) > [The commencement speech is not, I think, a wholly satisfactory manifestation of our culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/the-commencement-speech-is-not-i-think-a-wholly-satisfactory/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [“The most perfect life develops as a circle, and terminates in its beginning, making it impossible to say, This is the commencement, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/the-most-perfect-life-develops-as-a-circle-and-terminates-in-its/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-failure-failure-is-just-life-trying-to-move/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [If you think that happiness means total peace, you will never be happy. Peace comes from the acceptance of the part of you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/if-you-think-that-happiness-means-total-peace-you-will-never-be-happy/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [There happen to be whole large parts of adult American life that nobody talks about in commencement speeches. One such part involves boredom, routine,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/there-happen-to-be-whole-large-parts-of-adult-american-life-that/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [It is clear the future holds great opportunities. It also holds pitfalls. The trick will be to avoid the pitfalls, seize the opportunities, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/it-is-clear-the-future-holds-great-opportunities-it-also-holds/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [It was a myth that's often perpetuated at commencement that holds that only hope and promise lie beyond the halls of academe. Don't worry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/it-was-a-myth-that-s-often-perpetuated-at-commencement-that-holds/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) > [The stunning part was that one time Neil McElroy the Secretary of Defense who was the father of one of our classmates spoke and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-stunning-part-was-that-one-time-neil-mcelroy-the-secretary-of/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Nothing is as easy to make as a promise this winter to do something next summer; this is how commencement speakers are caught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/nothing-is-as-easy-to-make-as-a-promise-this-winter-to-do-something/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) [Browse all 131 Commencement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commencement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Commencement oratory must eschew anything that smacks of partisan politics, political preference, sex, religion or unduly firm opinion. 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