The problem with meaning

Where it all went wrong

Over the winter break, a source of mine e-mailed me a speech civic leader John Gardner gave to the Stanford Alumni Association six decades after his graduation. The address is a bevy of sage wisdom including these musings:

“The things you learn in maturity aren’t simple things such as acquiring information and skills. You learn not to engage in self-destructive behavior. You learn not to burn up energy in anxiety. You discover how to manage your tensions. You learn that self-pity and resentment are among the most toxic of drugs. You find…