PRINCETON — It helped to have a sense of humor on a day like this.

Princeton University’s Class Day — the day before graduation that honors student achievement — was a gray, cold, rainy event.

But it wasn’t a washout.

The seniors and their families were treated to a keynote address today from Steve Carell, the actor/comedian who probably has done more to help students procrastinate than any other celebrity.

Carell, best known for his portrayal of Michael Scott on NBC’s hit show "The Office," spoke for about 15 minutes, explaining his deeply held belief that the past was far better than the present.

"You are young," he said. "And because of that you are wrong."

Life was simpler in his day, he said, before Facebook friends, texts and tweets.

When a young lady turned Carell down, she did it in person and not via text, providing "the humiliation and self-loathing a young man needs for his growth."

"My point is," Carell said, "I suffered and you should have to suffer too."

Several thousand graduates and guests filled Cannon Green behind Nassau Hall to hear Carell tell how college was once a simpler time.

Knowledge did not come quickly; gratification did not come instantly.

"If we didn’t know something, we didn’t Google it," Carell said. "We just made an educated guess, or we made it up. We pretended that we knew and that was good enough ... And if you weren’t right, you could leave before anyone had time to check your facts."

Carell wasn’t the only comedian on stage today.

University President Shirley Tilghman had students in stitches with a couple inside jokes and a few that burst through the orange bubble.

She reminded her charges that the outside world has always had a way of intruding on their idyllic campus.

"Four of you Occupied Princeton," she said. "We were so proud."

And she encouraged her students to do the Tiger proud as they made their way into the "far reaches of the Upper East and West sides of Manhattan."

Class Day, a tradition that began in 1856, is held the day before Princeton’s commencement and is organized by members of the senior class. Student award winners are recognized at the event and graduates wear their beer jackets, specially designed coats with their graduation year emblazoned on the back and secret pockets for beer bottles inside.

In 2001, students began a new tradition of inviting celebrity speakers to deliver a humorous address. Past speakers have included President Bill Clinton, Jerry Seinfeld, Chevy Chase and Jon Stewart.

"Speeches forgotten as soon as they are delivered," Carell deadpanned. "Witness Brook Shields, Katie Couric and especially Stephen Colbert. ... He is the worst."

The hard rain let up just as Carell turned a bit serious. In his final words, he offered students a bit of, well, it wasn’t quite advice, but a few helpful hints:

"Show up on time, because to be late is to show disrespect," he said. "Remember the words regime and regiment are not interchangeable. Get a dog because cats are lame. And every once in awhile, put something positive into the world. We’ve become so cynical these days and by ‘we,’ I mean us. So do something kind, make somebody laugh and don’t take yourself too seriously."

Princeton students will graduate this morning in an outdoor ceremony in front of Nassau Hall.