Words to live by

This is taken from the baccalaureate address given in May to the graduating class at Yale University by its president, Peter Salovey:

“I propose to you that the strongest and most effective advocates of a position resist the temptation to demonize or mock their opponents, to inflame their friends, or to simplify complex matters. Without surrendering their convictions, they look instead to expand our sensibilities and awareness, to consider and to respect opposing concerns, and to present us with new options for how we might move forward together.”

This seems to me outstanding wisdom for all of us in these tumultuous times.

This story was originally published August 1, 2016 at 6:57 PM with the headline "Words to live by."