The Last Lecture

“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.

“I'm a scientist who sees inspiration as the ultimate tool for doing good.” 

In Pausch’s view inspiration is as critical to science as it is to other fields, like art. He cites the moon landing as one example of a monumental achievement that was made possible by inspiration to demonstrate that it is key to establishing and achieving dreams—and unlocking the peak of humanity’s potential for innovation.

“I’ve always believed that if you took one-tenth the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you’d be surprised by how well things can work out.” 

According to Pausch, life is too short to waste it on complaints. He recommends funneling any frustration into motivation, shifting your attitude from negative to positive, which is more likely to help you achieve your dreams and find happiness. In short, “Don’t complain, just work harder” (138).

“Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.” 

Chapter 39 focuses on the merits of failure. Failure is part and parcel of taking risks, but fear of it should never prevent you from trying. Most endeavors require trying, failing, learning, and trying again until you succeed, with each failure bringing you one step closer to success. Pausch prized failure to create an environment in which his students felt safe engaging in out-of-the-box thinking and gambling on their imagination.

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” 

Pausch makes a connection between gratitude and collaboration in the workplace. He recommends writing thank-you notes or giving simple gifts, as these gestures go a long way toward creating and sustaining positive relationships between colleagues, and good interpersonal relationships are crucial to team loyalty and collaboration.