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

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

“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.”

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

“How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.”

“There's only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self.”

“It is in the character of growth that we should learn from both pleasant and unpleasant experiences.”

“The content of a book holds the power of education and it is with this power that we can shape our future and change lives.”

“A Nobel Peace Prize would help me to begin this campaign for girls' education.”