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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)

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  • Alastair Humphreys 3 years ago
    this is great stuff. Magic.
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  • htp 3 years ago
    Wow. Moved me.
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  • Grace McDunnough 2 years ago
    Fantastic.
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  • Nairn Marnie 2 years ago
    Wise and honest words. Really enjoyed that – thanks for posting.
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  • Ben Sheldon 2 years 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 2 years ago
    Incredible! I'm wordless.
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  • Gregg 2 years 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 2 years ago
    A beautiful speech. A big thank you to the Harvard Folks for posting!
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  • Aclara Promotions plus 2 years ago
    Great speech, throughly enjoyed.
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  • reach out 2 years 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 2 years ago
    Profound quote you quoted. Thanks for capturing it!
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  • Sukhjinder Singh Khaira 2 years ago
    This speech make me think and think again of my failures
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  • Sylvain MARC /Polyminthe 2 years ago
    wow, how inspiring!
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  • Katja Gielnik 2 years 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 2 years ago
    This is a wonderful speech. Thank you, Harvard, for posting this!
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  • Javier Rincon 2 years ago
    great inspiration
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  • happyseaurchin 2 years ago
    incredibly eloquent and insightful
    much better than her books
    at least so far :)
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  • Joan Schenk 2 years 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 2 years 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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  • LauraHapper 2 years ago
    Amazing speech!!!
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  • Edsel Llave 2 years ago
    Very inspiring, she is such a very powerful speaker and worthy of emulation!
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  • Jeffrey Zeldman plus 2 years ago
    So wonderful.
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  • Shawn Burnam 2 years 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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  • Kat Shamash 1 year ago
    So much wisdom in such a short speech.
    What a celebration of empathy, imagination, and learning the lessons that come from failure. Most of all: the importance of true friends: invaluable.
    A beautiful speech... one I will watch again and again.
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  • AWoodfin 1 year ago
    I've never read any of her books, but I've watched a type of documentary of her life's journey and it was an inspiration to me.

    This speech gave additional insight into who she is and I am even more inspired.

    Bravo!
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  • Diana Cameron McQueen 11 months ago
    inspiring. funny. heartbreaking. amazing.
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  • LauraHapper 10 months ago
    This is always inspiring. When I'm feeling down and defeated, I always come to this video and it's an amazing burst of energy. Thank you for uploading this.

    Thank you J.K. Rowling for an AMAZING speech!
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  • Bob Horn 9 months ago
    Touched - moved - inspired - be fully self expressed - living a full joyful life comes forth by my way of being - open my eyes to all the gifts which are set before me - honor them - keep them close and be appreciative and grateful.
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  • Sandra Riffero 8 months ago
    A thoughtful and inspirational speech by an exceptional woman who teaches others self-analysis as a way to personally grow. One has to take risks to achieve what one wants in life...that is the rule. She's an exceptional woman, the true definition of a role model...kind, giving, generous, funny...a real asset to our planet.
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  • Pamela Santos 7 months ago
    As Diana Cameron McQueen said above: inspiring. funny. heartbreaking. amazing.
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  • ronfurg 6 months ago
    My bet is that Ms. Rowling's address meant far more to the graduates than they could have imagined prior to the start of her remarks. I fail to see how anyone could escape being touched and inspired by her moving description of the distinction between success and failure and the value of imagination. Beautifully done Ms. Rowling.
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  • rocket science shorts 5 months ago
    thank you so much, this is brilliant and revitalizing!
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  • JARANDandJENS 4 months ago
    we're making a fanmade film about Dumbledore: vimeo.com/29199333

    Check it out! :))
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