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Back to School with Punkle Henry (Rollins) | Big Think

Big Think | March 18, 2026



Back to School with Punkle Henry (Rollins)
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The legendary punk rocker offers some advice to today’s youth.
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HENRY ROLLINS:

Henry Rollins is an American singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, writer, comedian, publisher, actor, and radio DJ. After performing for the short-lived Washington D.C.-based band State of Alert in 1980, Rollins fronted the California hardcore punk band Black Flag from August 1981 until mid-1986. Following the band’s breakup, Rollins soon established the record label and publishing company 2.13.61 to release his spoken word albums, as well as forming the Rollins Band, which toured with a number of lineups from 1987 until 2003, and during 2006. Since Black Flag, Rollins has embarked on projects covering a variety of media. He has hosted numerous radio shows, such as Harmony in My Head on Indie 103, and television shows such as The Henry Rollins Show, MTV’s 120 Minutes, and Jackass. He had a recurring dramatic role in the second season of Sons of Anarchy and has also had roles in several films. Rollins has also campaigned for various political causes in the United States, including promoting LGBT rights, World Hunger Relief, and an end to war in particular, and tours overseas with the United Service Organizations to entertain American troops.
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TRANSCRIPT:

Henry Rollins: Young person, you’ll find in your life that sometimes your great ambitions will be momentarily stymied, thwarted, marginalized by those who were perhaps luckier, come from money, where more doors opened, where college was a given–it was not a student loan; it was something that Dad paid for–to where an ease and confidence in life was almost a birthright, where for you it was a very hard climb.

You cannot let these people make you feel that you have in any way been dwarfed or out-classed. You must really go for your own and realize how short life is. You got what you got, so you have to make the most of it. You really can’t spend a whole lot of time worrying about his. You really have to go for your own. If you have an idea of what you want to do in your future, you must go at it with almost monastic obsession, be it music, the ballet or just a basic degree. You have to go at it single-mindedly and let nothing get in your way. You’re young. That’s why you can survive on no sleep, Top Ramen noodles and dental floss and still look good.

All the people you admire, from Mohamed Ali to any politician, they work and work and work. Your president right now is a man who got where he is through very hard work and scholarships, mainly hard work and application and discipline. If these people can do it, why not you?

We live in very interesting times and, as a young person going into a very turbulent and fragile economy that is going to get better–it’s going to take awhile–, it is easy to lose your moral compass, your decency, your sense of civility and your sense of community. Very easy. You known, things in traffic make you mad. People are getting a little desperate. They might not show their best elements to you. You must never lower yourself to being a person you don’t like.

There is no better time than now to have a moral and civic backbone, to have a moral and civic true north. This is a tremendous opportunity for you, a young person, to be heroic, to be morally upstanding, to be helpful, almost Boy Scout-like, presidential, to be altruistic.

Weakness is what brings ignorance, cheapness, racism, homophobia, desperation, cruelty, brutality, all these things that will keep a society chained to the ground, one foot nailed to the floor. It’s by being strong in the face of all of that, not lowering yourself to it, that’s how you lead. That’s how you liberate others and maintain freedom. You don’t have to beat your chest. You don’t have to wave a flag, but to maintain a high level of decency

And it sounds like I’m a cranky old man, like something you want to rebel against, but really think about what I’m saying. I think I’m right about this. When you look at what real desperation and ignorance looks like, when you have to run from it, like, literally run from it, you don’t want to be that. You want to be that which leads others out of that.

And now more than ever is the time to show these great qualities, to extol these great qualities and to embody these great qualities, which you have. Now it’s time to magnify them, personify them and inspire others with them. And there’s never been a time where they’re needed more than right now.

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Written by Big Think

Comments

This post currently has 40 comments.

  1. @HammerGoatRex

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    "You got what you got, so you have to make the most of it." That is my life philosophy. Use your talents/skills/abilities to be the best version of you. Henry nailed it.

  14. @tonyc.0451

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    Imagine Henry Rollins telling Korra this.

    If the "Avatar" franchise makes a comeback, here's hoping that Henry Rollins voices Zaheer again or another character who can inspire others.

  18. @OmniphonProductions

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    Setting aside the fact that, besides a strong work ethic, politicians in general are absolutely NOT the ideal example for ANY other ethic reference, Henry's advice is spot on.  In fact, the more politicians try to "divide and conquer" DC…and by extension, the USA…the more incumbent it is on individual citizens to find common ground and demonstrate respect, not just insist on receiving it.

  23. @gwillikerz1504

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    presidents could possibly be chosen by a "secret" society. as far as i have heard. they are all but one, blood related sooooo. that's just an idea! idk bout that "hard work" just proposing another idea. "smiley face" ….. sorry modern society, if i'm "awkward"/"creepy"/have no idea about how grammar "works". "fuck YOU" hahaha

  28. @lordarach

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    I love everything you said except for the political part. Don't defend politicians who, regardless of party affiliation, are caught up in scandal after scandal and breaking or bending the laws as they see fit. They are not for the people. Why don't you talk about getting them out? This administration in particular has done more to fuel racial and class fires than 10 Reagans. You lost your punk dude.

  36. @josephgrondolsky2984

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    ok bro. have a nice day. hope you dont get to angry and mass kill some people since you like to imply meaning to someones statement. You say he claims Rich people go around saying these things. Im saying that his claim is they dont have to, they just are viewed that way. Why dont you go read a bible, then feel justified for killing people who dont live that way. Twisting words will lead you to take incorrect action, and look like a fool. You obviously cant tell what im trying to say so BYEEE

  37. @josephgrondolsky2984

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    You are putting words in his mouth and cheating yourself out of what hes trying to help us see and understand. Anyone can assume he's saying "thats what the rich are doing" but he didnt. so it is up to the viewer to interpret the best way it appeals to them. Your statement could indirectly cause confusion to those who dont feel the same as you. " I would advise " dont put words in peoples mouth, and let each person come up with their own opinion and interpretation.

  38. @josephgrondolsky2984

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    Don't need a transcript to understand people can simply feel less adequate compared to those who are wealthy without even a look their way. A simple commercial is enough to make those who strive to live, feel as if they don't measure up to the rich, What he said is a pretty general statement. It can be perceived many ways, but in the end mean the same thing. The rich make the poor feel worthless and unable to progress in society, so why even try? Even if it is'nt malicious, its still a fact

  39. @josephgrondolsky2984

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    He didn't claim rich people or people that were financially better off go around saying I'm better then you, or you should give up, he pointed out that those who don't have that background or who didn't grow up in that environment, have to be persistent in their passions. the struggle that could lead to desperation should not hold you back. He points out how easy it is for the poor to feel this way in the company or the shadow of the wealthy. how they make people feel in comparison.

  40. @Arthurox

    March 18, 2026 at 1:20 pm

    hmmm.. speak for yourself and stop assuming that every watching YT is sitting on their asses for pleasure!! I found this video during my in-depth research on starting my own non-profit Corp, which is less that 2 weeks away from launching!!!

    The irony is, you just missed his point~!

Comments are closed.

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