Did you know that (opening your heart and mind to) love was the key to success, the key to happiness? How about that Kanye West had a pig part in developing John Legend‘s career when everyone else said no? These are revelations made in John’s address to the Class of 2014 at The University of Pennsylvania. You can read his entire speech here but I want to highlight a few words that stood out to me:

• ON SUCCESS: The key to success, the key to happiness, is opening your mind and your heart to love. Spending your time doing things you love and with people you love.

• ON CHARACTER: They [his parents] taught us about character, about what it meant to live a good life.

• ON BEING BETTER: I put a lot of energy into becoming a better artist, a better writer and a better performer. Keyword BETTER.

• ON QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS: But years from now, when you look back on your time here on earth, your life and your happiness will be way more defined by the quality of your relationships, not the quantity. You’ll get much more joy out of depth, not breadth.

• ON MARRIAGE: I’ve found someone who makes me want to try, someone who makes me want to take that risk. And it’s made all the difference.

• ON FEAR: Hate comes from one thing: fear. And fear is the opposite of love.

• ON JUSTICE:If you’re committed to loving in public, it requires you opening your eyes to injustice, to see the world through the eyes of another.

And in closing

“I want you to live the best life you can. You can be world-changers. When you leave here today, you’re going to be looking for a lot of things: security, money, friendships, sex, all kinds of things. But the most important thing you’ll find is love.

So love your self, love your work, love the people around you. Dare to love those who are different from you, no matter where they’re from, what they look like, and who they love. Pursue this life of love with focus and passion and ambition and courage. Give it your all. And that will be your path to true success.”