Iwasraisedbyatough,compassionateIrishladynamedCatherineEugeniaFinneganBiden.Andshetaughtallofherchildrenthat,butforthegraceofGod,theregoyou--butforthegraceofGod,theregoyou.
Andafatherwholivedhismottothat,familywasthebeginning,themiddle,andtheend.Andlikemanyofyouandyourparents,Iwasfortunate.IlearnedearlyonwhatIwantedtodo,whatfulfilledmethemost,whatmademehappy-—myfamily,myfaith,andbeingengagedinthepublicaffairsthatgrippedmygenerationandbeinginspiredbyayoungPresidentnamedKennedy--civilrights,theenvironment,tryingtoendanincrediblyuselessanddivisivewar,Vietnam.
Thetruthis,though,thatneitherI,noranyoneelse,cantellyouwhatwillmakeyouhappy,helpyoufindsuccess.
Youeachhavedifferentcomfortlevels.Everyonehasdifferentgoalsandaspirations.ButonethingI’veobserved,onethingIknow,anexpressionmydadwoulduseoften,isreal.Heusedtosay,it’saluckymanorwomangetsupinthemorning--andImeanthissincerely.Itwasoneofhisexpressions.It’saluckymanorwomangetsupinthemorning,putsbothfeetonthefloor,knowswhatthey’reabouttodo,andthinksitstillmatters.