Thank you, it’s an honor to be here — especially since I was never invited. My congratulations to all you future leaders, followers and resisters.

I’d like to begin, as is obligatory, with a little story. There was once a blustery, arrogant tourist — let’s say an American tourist, since that seems appropriate — visiting some country and taking a ride in a taxi. The taxi driver, angling for a big tip, would point out interesting facts about the local landmarks. But the tourist would always come back with a mention of something in the U.S. that was bigger and better, to the driver’s growing annoyance.

Passing one particular skyscraper, the taxi driver comments, “That’s our tallest skyscraper — over 1600 feet high”. To which the American replies, “That’s nothing. The World Trade Center in New York is over 1700 feet high.” They continue a little farther, and they pass another tall building. The driver comments, “This structure is really a marvel of engineering. It was built in just three and a half years.” To which the American arrogantly responds, “That’s really a long time for such a tall building. The Sears Tower in Chicago was built in less than three years, and I’m sure it’s even taller.” Well, by this time, the driver is so irritated by the American’s manner that he just gives up and stops talking altogether. Bur after a short time, they pass another imposing building, and the American says, “Wow! Now that building is actually impressive. What is it?” The driver just shrugs and says, “I have no idea. It wasn’t there yesterday.”

Now what is the point of this anecdote? Well… I guess there really isn’t one. I just wanted to make you laugh, or chuckle, or smile, or at least give a slight nod of appreciation. I wanted to get you to focus on my words so you would pay attention to what I’m going to be saying in just a moment.

I’m not going to bore you by droning on about setting goals and being persistent. You’ve heard it all before. Plus, goals are often counterproductive, and being persistent in the wrong pursuits can be downright harmful.

No, I’m going to tell you something that you’ve rarely heard if ever, and that is much more useful. If you take my advice to heart, I promise it will change your life for the better –and have a positive impact on many other people as well. Really.

But the thing is, what I have to say is very brief. I’m not going to ramble for half an hour or even fifteen minutes. My advice is only a single sentence. One sentence. That’s all. Just one. Very brief. So I have to build up to it. So it doesn’t zip by you like a shark. Plus, if I repeat myself a lot, repeat myself a lot. And speak in short sentences. Really short. And make weird, head -scratching allusions like a shark. Then maybe you’ll think I’m presidential. And pay attention.

Okay, but I don’t want to try your patience too much. So here it is. My one sentence. My real speech. Ready? Here it comes.

Always remember that facts are seldom shouted from rooftops; but opinions, beliefs and lies always are.

That’s it. That’s my speech. And now you can spend the rest of the day — and I hope the rest of your lives — ignoring the loud people.