J.K. Rowling, author of the best-selling Harry Potter book series, delivers her Commencement Address, “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination,” at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association. (via harvardmagazine.com)

Likes

  • Alastair Humphreys 2 years ago
    this is great stuff. Magic.
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  • htp 1 year ago
    Wow. Moved me.
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  • Grace McDunnough 10 months ago
    Fantastic.
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  • Nairn Marnie 8 months ago
    Wise and honest words. Really enjoyed that – thanks for posting.
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  • Ben Sheldon 7 months ago
    I've got chills after listening to that. Already a huge fan of her and her work, this was a great privilege to watch and I utterly enjoyed it. Thank you.
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  • Marc Falk 7 months ago
    Incredible! I'm wordless.
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  • Gregg 7 months ago
    A wonderful voice of wisdom and compassion exhorting our youth to move the world in a positive direction instead of going out into the world and working only for their own personal welfare. Well done.
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  • Vishal Kurup 7 months ago
    A beautiful speech. A big thank you to the Harvard Folks for posting!
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  • Aclara Promotions plus 7 months ago
    Great speech, throughly enjoyed.
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  • reach out 7 months ago
    Profound words that will forever haunt me, for there is truth in them.

    "I think the wilfully unimaginative see more monsters. They are often more afraid.
    What is more, those who choose not to empathise enable real monsters. For without ever committing an act of outright evil ourselves, we collude with it, through our own apathy"
  • Joan Schenk 6 months ago
    Profound quote you quoted. Thanks for capturing it!
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  • This speech make me think and think again of my failures
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  • wow, how inspiring!
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  • Katja Gielnik 6 months ago
    I love her wit and I admire her brain, and the ability to really reflect and learn.
    She is someone I'd really like to know.
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  • Luke Pygman plus 6 months ago
    This is a wonderful speech. Thank you, Harvard, for posting this!
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  • Javier Rincon 6 months ago
    great inspiration
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  • happyseaurchin 6 months ago
    incredibly eloquent and insightful
    much better than her books
    at least so far :)
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  • Joan Schenk 6 months ago
    What do you wish you had known when you were younger? This video by J.K. Rowling is one of the most insightful, inspiring speeches I have EVER heard. I laughed and I cried and am so thankful to have found it thanks to a FACEBOOK friend! It makes all of the hours spent in search of knowledge and wisdom worthwhile! MUST READ and pass on especially to your children.
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  • Karthik 4 months ago
    How very inspiring. The clarity with which she speaks is uncommon. I feel rather lucky to have read her work in during my formative years. God speed!
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  • Laura 2 months ago
    Amazing speech!!!
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  • Edsel Llave 2 months ago
    Very inspiring, she is such a very powerful speaker and worthy of emulation!
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  • Jeffrey Zeldman 2 months ago
    So wonderful.
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  • Shawn Burnam plus 2 months ago
    What a Class-Act! A superb and rare combination of wit and wisdom. Hope the grads take it to heart, I did.
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