I thought the country I'd just described to them - a hopeful, generous, courageous America, an America that was open to everyone. At about the same age as the graduates were now, I'd seized on that idea and clung to it for dear life. For their sake more than mine, I badly wanted it to be true.

The audacity of hope! I still remember my grandmother, singing in the house, 'There's a bright side somewhere Ãƒ¢Ã¢'¬Ã‚¦ don't rest till you find it Ãƒ¢Ã¢'¬Ã‚¦.'" "That's right!" "The audacity of hope!

America, I never said this journey would be easy, and I won't promise that now. Yes, our path is harder — but it leads to a better place. Yes our road is longer — but we travel it together. We don't turn back. We leave no one behind. We pull each other up. We draw strength from our victories, and we learn from our mistakes...

Cynicism is fashionable these days. But I got to tell you, cynicism didn't put a man on the moon. Cynicism did not create the opportunity for all of our citizens to vote. Cynicism has never won a war, or cured a disease, or started a business, or fed young minds. I believe in optimism. I believe in hope ... Don't let the cynics get you down. Cynicism is a choice - and hope is a better choice.

I don't know how you go on, but I really hope you'll keep doing it. That you won't give up esperanza. I thought of that last night. Esperanza is all you get, no second chances. What you have to do is try and think of reasons to stick it out.

Until I learned to be in love with my life again. Like a stroke victim retraining new parts of the brain to grasp lost skills, i have taught myself joy, over and over again.

It's not what happens to us, but our response to what happens to us that hurts us. Of course, things can hurt us physically or economically and can cause sorrow. But our character, our basic identity, does not have to be hurt at all.

Oh, how everything that is suffered with love is healed again!

Happiness is just how you feel when you don't feel miserable.

The grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

While there is hope, do not distrust the gods;

I will not be discouraged by failure I will not be elated by success.