This Is Water - David Foster Wallace Commencement Speech

This Is Water is based on David Foster Wallace’s famous commencement speech given at Kenyon College. Though it’s short, it carries a powerful message about choosing how we see the world around us. Wallace begins with a simple story about two young fish who don’t realize they’re swimming in water—an analogy for how people often go through life without being aware of the environment they’re in.

Wallace’s central point is that our “default setting” tends to be self-centered. We get annoyed in traffic or at the grocery store because we feel our time is being wasted. We think about our own needs and forget that everyone else around us is also dealing with their own struggles. According to Wallace, true freedom involves learning to notice these automatic reactions and choosing a different perspective.

He suggests that real education isn’t just about collecting facts or job skills, but about being aware and compassionate. For instance, if the line is moving slowly, maybe the cashier has had a tough day or is worrying about personal problems. Choosing to imagine what others might be going through can make ordinary moments more meaningful and less frustrating.

Wallace also warns against living on “auto-pilot,” where people let routines and habits dictate how they feel. He sees this as a path to boredom and anger because it leaves little room for empathy or curiosity. By deliberately paying attention to the world around us—the “water” we swim in—we can break free from patterns of negativity or impatience.

Another theme is the idea that worshipping things like money, beauty, or intellect can become dangerous. If your self-worth depends on external measures like wealth or popularity, you’ll never be satisfied. Wallace encourages readers to choose a more meaningful form of worship, such as valuing kindness, compassion, or gratitude in everyday life. While he admits that this can be challenging, he claims it’s the path to a richer, more engaged existence.

Overall, This Is Water is a reminder that we have the power to control our outlook, even in the smallest moments of daily life. By recognizing we’re all connected and that everyone’s story is complex, we can develop greater empathy and patience. Wallace’s core message is that the choice of how to see and think about the world truly “is water”—it’s everywhere, yet we often fail to notice it until we decide to look more carefully.