I've already complained about my own law school graduation speaker. I only got more bitter when I read the text of Professor Pamela Karlan's remarks to Stanford Law School's Class of 2009. She's funny; she quotes Dante; she inspires. She also addresses her membership on The Short List:

Would I like to be on the Supreme Court? You bet I would. But not enough to have trimmed my sails for half a lifetime. Sure, I’ve done lots of things I regret over the years. But the things I regret aren’t the things that keep someone from being nominated or getting confirmed. I regret being unkind to people I love and respect and admire. I regret getting frustrated by little things. I regret never taking a summer off. I regret not being able to stick to a diet. But I don’t regret taking sides on questions involving the Voting Rights Act. I don’t regret helping to defend the constitutional rights of criminal defendants. I don’t regret litigating cases on behalf of gay people. I don’t even regret being sort of snarky.

I recommend reading this on a Monday morning, a Thursday afternoon, or whenever you normally need a little pick-me-up.