WASHINGTON — In an address billed as an examination of the future of politics, Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin on Wednesday admonished politicians in both parties for debasing political discourse, urging candidates to lift their gaze toward matters of serious policy and to strive for civility.

It was a familiar role for the speaker: He has become something of a Washington scold, deploring desultory campaigns and ill manners. “Looking around at what’s taking place in politics today, it is so easy to get disheartened,” Mr. Ryan told an audience of House interns assembled for the speech. “How many of you find yourself just shaking your head at what you see from both sides of the aisle these days?”

In the most striking part of his speech, Mr. Ryan faulted himself for having referred to the “makers and takers” in society when he was the Republican vice-presidential nominee in 2012.

“As I spent more time listening, and really learning the root causes of poverty, I realized I was wrong,” said Mr. Ryan, who has made attacking poverty a central goal of the House.