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J.K. Rowling Harvard Commencement Speech | Harvard University Commencement 2008
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SPEAKER: Last summer, in a grand celebration of literature,
Harvard Square and Harvard Yard, historically known
as the place for hallowed halls filled with books,
was transformed into Hogwarts Square.
[CHEERING]
This summer festival celebrated the midnight release
of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,
the seventh and final installment
in the wildly popular series.
Hordes of people, children and adults
alike, dressed in elaborate wizard costumes,
stood in line for hours at the Coop
to purchase copies of the book.
Dozens of restaurants and stores stayed open late and posted
Harry Potter-themed specials.
And a three-hour concert capped off
the evening in a packed Tercentenary Theatre.
Today, Tercentenary Theatre is once again
packed with children and adults.
And we are pleased to welcome one
of the most successful authors of our time.
Her books have set sales records and have won many awards,
probably because the Harry Potter stories provide
a familiar backdrop for readers who can empathize
with the young protagonist adrift in a sometimes
cruel and challenging world.
In addition to her vast contributions to literature,
she is also noted for the social, moral, and political
inspiration she has given her fans.
A notable philanthropist, she has established the Volant
Charitable Trust, which donates millions of dollars
to aid women and children and to combat
poverty and social inequality.
The--
[APPLAUSE]
The Fund also gives to organizations
that aid children, one-parent families, and multiple sclerosis
research.
She herself has noted that a person
has a moral responsibility, when you've
been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it
and to give intelligently.
And now I give you Ms. JK Rowling.
[CHEERING, APPLAUSE]
JK ROWLING: Thank you.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation
and the Board of Overseers, members
of the faculty, proud parents, and, above all,
graduates, the first thing I would like to say is thank you.
Not only has Harvard given me an extraordinary honor,
but the weeks of fear and nausea I have endured--
[LAUGHTER]
--at the thought of giving this commencement address have made
me lose weight--
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
--a win-win situation.
Now all I have to do is take deep breaths,
squint at the red banners, and convince myself
that I am at the world's largest Gryffindor reunion.
[LAUGHTER]
[CHEERING]
Delivering a commencement address
is a great responsibility, or so I
thought until I cast my mind back to my own graduation.
The commencement speaker that day
was the distinguished British philosopher Baroness Mary
Warnock.
Reflecting on her speech has helped me enormously
in writing this one because it turns out that I can't remember
a single word she said.
[LAUGHTER]
This liberating discovery enables me to proceed--
[LAUGHTER]
--without any fear that I might inadvertently
influence you to abandon promising careers in business,
the law, or politics for the giddy
delights of becoming a gay wizard.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
You see, if all you remember in years to come
is the gay wizard joke, I've come out ahead
of Baroness Mary Warnock.
[LAUGHTER]
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