Ken Burns, who lives and works just over the Connecticut River in Walpole, New Hampshire, has been making award-winning documentary films and miniseries for almost a half century. On May 19, Burns gave this commencement address at Brandeis University, where he received an honorary degree (doctor of creative arts). We not only found his words extraordinarily thought provoking but also appreciated his advice to college graduates - and, for that matter, the rest of us. We present it to readers of The Commons with the author's permission.