The Last Lecture

“What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow, what would we want as our legacy?” 

These questions are the driving force behind the tradition of the last lecture. Retiring academics often give one final lecture about what matters most to them—what they believe is the sagest wisdom they can offer. These queries are particularly poignant in Pausch’s case, given his terminal cancer diagnosis. As Pausch prepared his final lecture—and later wrote this book—these questions became not just a matter of wisdom but a matter of legacy.

“The brick walls are there for a reason. They’re not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.” 

Pausch employs brick walls as a metaphor to symbolize the obstacles that stand between a person and their dreams. He stresses that these walls are not manifestations of the futility of a dream but a challenge, a test of your tenacity, your ambition, and your ingenuity. Pausch advocates viewing brick walls not as hindrances but as opportunities or even motivation; they are a chance to prove your determination and your creativity.

“No matter how bad things are, you can always make things worse. At the same time, it is often within your power to make them better.” 

Pausch believes that self-control is essential to determining your own fate. Even when events spiral beyond your control, you still govern your own choices and behaviors. You always have options, no matter how stressful, frustrating, or scary a situation is. You can cede control to your circumstances, exacerbating the situation, or you can try to find a solution, thereby determining your own fate.