“If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day.”

— William H. McRaven, University of Texas at Austin Commencement Address, 2014

About William H. McRaven

Retired U.S. Navy admiral and former Navy SEAL, chancellor of the University of Texas System, and author of 'Make Your Bed' (2017).

“If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

“Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter.”

“If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.”

“What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason, how infinite in faculty!”

“We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds.”

“Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work.”

“Hard work is simply the refuge of people who have nothing whatever to do.”

“Why does this magnificent applied science which saves work and makes life easier bring us so little happiness?”

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”