Actor Tom Hanks lectured new graduates on truth during his commencement speech at Harvard University Thursday.
Hanks himself attended Chabot Community College in California, but he received an honorary doctorate degree and a Harvard volleyball in homage to his Castaway character’s prop, Wilson, during the ceremony. The actor attempted to motivate graduates to pursue “sacred” truth instead of the truth that has evolved from today’s society.
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“For the truth to some is no longer empirical. It’s no longer based on data, nor common sense, nor even common decency,” Hanks said
“Telling the truth is no longer the benchmark for public service. It’s no longer the salve to our fears, or the guide to our actions. Truth is now considered malleable, by opinion and by zero-sum endgames.”
During his speech, Hanks acknowledged that an effort to pursue truth “is optional. But the truth, the truth is sacred. Unalterable. Chiseled into the stone and the foundation of our republic.” All throughout the speech, the actor quoted from the Declaration of Independence and the Bible to get his point across, reminding the students everyone is “created equal” and wishing that “goodness and mercy follow” the Harvard alumni.
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Hanks made headlines earlier this year during his book tour when he rejected the notion that books of any era be “abridged due to modern sensitivities.” Instead, the 66-year-old actor encouraged readers to have faith in their “own sensibilities as opposed to having somebody decide what we may or may not be offended by.”
