child, I had been struck by the image of RFK breaking bread at mass with Caesar Chavez on the day Chavez ended his hunger strike.

That what he had done, what I'm seeing him do in that photograph was in accordance with Christ's admonition,

that whatsoever you do to the least of our brothers that you do unto Christ himself, was clear to me even as a little boy.

And I have kept the eternal and essential ripple of hope quotation from his 1966 South Africa speech

on my desk at both shows for over a decade now

and whenever I feel most hopeless for our country or for our species for that

matter I will if I remember read those words and take strength from its simple truth that while

few can change history everyone has the opportunity and the obligation to push back on the

temptation to despair because despair is very seductive,

like all mortal sins. And if there's any value to doing a late-night show beyond the obvious

virtues of selling cold medicine and car insurance, it is acting as a nightly counterpoint

to the daily diet of fear that we are all fed.

Fear is one thing our country still manufactures, but you cannot laugh and be afraid at the same time.

So we do our best to keep it light in light of the darkness.

And if that sends anyone, even a ripple of hope,

it is far beyond our ambition,

but it is a compliment too great to measure.

So on behalf of the hundreds of people

who make what I do possible every night,

and with a dangerous amount of pride,

I accept this great honor.

Thank you so much.

...