Sir Michael Caine’s rendition of his favorite poem, “IF” by Rudyard Kipling.

It’s my birthday. I’m 68. I feel like pulling up a rocking chair and dispensing advice to the young ‘uns. Here are 68 pithy bits of unsolicited advice which I offer as my birthday present to all of you.

Not long ago, I came across a little-known speech titled, “You and Your Research”. The speech had been delivered in 1986 by Richard Hamming, an accomplished mathematician and computer engineer, as part of an internal series of talks given at Bell Labs.

I turned 30 last week and a friend asked me if I’d figured out any life advice in the past decade worth passing on. I’m somewhat hesitant to publish this because I think these lists usually seem hollow, but here is a cleaned up version of my answer.

Rudyard Kipling was a prolific poet, novelist and journalist and one of the most well-known Victorian writers of his time.

Full Poem: Did you tackle that trouble that came your way With a resolute heart and cheerful? Or hide your face from the light of day With a craven soul and fearful?

Desiderata, which means “things that are desired,” was written by Max Ehrmann “because it counsels those virtues I felt most in need of.”

Books are more likely to change minds than conversations. There is too much happening internally during conversation:

The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

If it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. That’s the lesson. That lesson alone, will save you a lot of grief. Even doubt means don’t.

As far back as I can recall, my prayer has been the same: Use me, God. Show me how to take who I am, who I want to be, and what I can do, and use it for a purpose greater than myself.

People will rise to the big and dramatically good – they will yawn at the timid, the unconvincing.

We live only to discover beauty. All else is a form of waiting.

If all our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be content to take their own and depart.

It is not greed that drives the world, it is envy.

My spirit will rise to the bold and dramatically good – it will yawn at the timid and the unconvincing.

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over and whispers “Grow, grow.”

This is an Inspirational Speech