《哈利波特》的作者J.K.罗琳⼥⼠在出席⼀次哈佛⼤学的毕业典礼时，演讲了《失败的好处和想象的重要性》。她⼏乎没有谈到哈⾥波特，⽽是谈及年轻时⼀段⾮常艰⾟的⽇⼦和对⼈⽣的思考。” 演讲中⽂：
福斯特主席，哈佛公司和监察委员会的各位成员，各位⽼师、家长、全体毕业⽣们：
⾸先，请允许我说⼀声谢谢。哈佛给予我的不仅仅是⽆上的荣誉，还有连⽇来因为⼀想到这个演讲，带来的恐惧以及恐惧导致的阵阵恶⼼让我减肥成功。这真是⼀个双赢的局⾯。
现在我要做的就是深呼吸，眯着眼睛看着眼前的⼤红横幅，安慰⾃⼰只是在世界上最⼤的矮⼈⼤会上。发表毕业演说是⼀个巨⼤的责任，我的思绪⼀下⼦回到⾃⼰的毕业典礼上。那天做报告的是英国著名的哲学家Baroness Mary Warnock，通过对她的演讲的回忆对我写今天的演讲稿给予了极⼤地帮助。因为我不记得她说过的任何⼀句话了，这个发现让我释然，让我不再有任何恐惧。我可能会⽆意中影响你，放弃在商业、法律或政治等有前途的职业⽽为眩晕的愉悦成为⼀个“快乐的魔法师”。你们都明⽩，如果在若⼲年后您还记得“快乐的魔法师”这个笑话，说明我已经超越了Baroness Mary Warnock。
可实现的⽬标：个⼈提⾼的第⼀步。其实，我为今天应该告诉你们什么已经殚精竭虑了。我曾问⾃⼰：我从毕业到现在的这些年⾥，学到和了解了什么重要的教训。我已想出了两个答案。在这个美好的⼀天，当我们正聚集在⼀起庆祝您毕业的时刻，我已决定与你们谈谈失败的好处，另⼀⽅⾯，你们站在“现实⽣活”的门槛上，我要歌颂⾄关重要的想象⼒。这些似乎是不切实际或似是⽽⾮的选择，但请原谅我。让⼀个已经42岁的⼈回顾在她21岁毕业时情景，是个让⼈有点不舒服的经历。 sas macro
失败的好处
可以说，我⼈⽣的前⼀部分，⼀直挣扎在⾃⼰的雄⼼和⾝边的⼈对我的期望两者之间取得平衡。我⼀直深信我唯⼀想做的事——写⼩说。不过，我的⽗母两⼈都来⾃贫穷的背景，⽽且没有任何⼀⼈上过⼤学。他们都坚持认为我过度的想象⼒是⼀个令⼈惊讶的个⼈怪癖，绝不可⽀付按揭或保证安稳的退休⾦。他们希望我拿到⼀个职业学位。可我想学习英语⽂学。最终达成了⼀个折衷的意见，现在想起来仍不令⼈满意，最终，我去学习现代语⾔。⼏乎刚把车停在路尽头的墙⾓，我放弃了德语并逃到古典⽂学的殿堂。我不记得是否告诉我的⽗母我是学习古典⽂学的。也许他们很可能在我毕业那天才第⼀次发现我的专业是什么。在这个星球上的所有科⽬⾥，我想他们会认为再没有⽐希腊神话学更糟糕的了。
我想澄清⼀下：我不会因为他们的观点⽽责怪我的⽗母。埋怨⽗母给你指错⽅向是有时间段的。当你
长到⾃⼰可以掌握⽅向时，你就要⾃⼰承担责任了。尤其是，我不会因为⾃⼰希望不要经历贫穷⽽责怪我的⽗母。他们是贫穷的，我也⼀
⽅向时，你就要⾃⼰承担责任了。尤其是，我不会因为⾃⼰希望不要经历贫穷⽽责怪我的⽗母。他们是贫穷的，我也⼀直很贫穷。贫困带来的恐惧，压⼒有时是绝望，这意味着屈辱和苦难。⽤您⾃⼰的努⼒摆脱贫困这确实是⼀件对⾃⼰⽽⾔骄傲的事情。但贫穷本⾝只有对傻⽠⽽⾔才是浪漫的。
我在你们这个年龄时，最害怕的不是贫穷，⽽是失败。像你们这样⼤时，我明显缺乏在⼤学学习的动⼒。我花了太久在咖啡吧写故事，⽽在课堂的时间就很少了。我有⼀个通过考试的诀窍，并且数年间⼀直认为我的⽣活在我的同龄⼈中是成功的，现在，我不愚蠢地假设因为你们的年轻、天才和受过良好教育就从来没有困难或⼼碎的时刻。
才华和智商从来不会对命运的反复⽆常有所准备。我也不会假设⼤家都坐这⾥冷静地满⾜于⾃⾝的优越感。但从哈佛毕业的事实表明，你们对失败不熟悉。害怕失败像渴望成功⼀样强烈。事实上，您对失败的理解可能和普通⼈对成功的看法不会太远。因为你们已经站在如此之⾼的位置。最终，我们所有⼈都必须⾃⼰决定什么构成失败，但如果你愿意，世界是相当渴望给你⼀套标准的。
因⽽我可以公平地讲，从任何传统的标准看，在我毕业仅仅七年后的⽇⼦⾥，我的失败就达到了空前的规模：⼀个异常短暂的破裂的婚姻、失业、⼀个单亲家长，像在现代英国的穷⼈⼀样，只是还没有
到⽆家可归的地步罢了。眼前时刻浮现着⽗母和⾃⼰对未来的担⼼。按照惯常的标准来看，我是我所见过的最⼤的失败者。现在，我不打算站在这⾥告诉你失败是好玩的，我的那段⽣活经历是困窘不堪的；我更不知道新闻媒体所说的童话故事般的⾰命；我也不知道那种困苦要持续多久；在相当长的⼀段时间⾥，任何尽头的光明都只是⼀个希望⽽不是现实。
那么，为什么我要谈论失败的好处呢？只是因为失败剥去了你不需要的东西。我不再伪装⾃⼰，⽽是直接把所有精⼒放在对我最重要的⼯作上。如果我已经在其他领域成功了，我可能绝不会再有机会到在真正属于⾃⼰的舞台上取得成功的决⼼。我重新获得了⾃由，因为我最害怕的已经发⽣了，但我还活着，我还有⼀个我深爱着的⼥⼉，还有⼀个旧打字机和⼀个⼤创意（指写“哈利波特”）。
所以，困境的⾕底成为我重建⽣活的坚实基础。你可能永远不会有我这种失败的经历，但有些失败，在⽣活中是不可避免的。毫⽆挫折的⽣活是不存在，除⾮你⽣活的万般⼩⼼，可有些失败还是会发⽣。失败让我内⼼安全，是我从通过考试中没有得到过的。失败教会我⼀些不能⽤其他⽅法获得的东西，我发现⾃⼰有坚强的意志，⽐想象中还多的原则，我也发现我拥有朋友——他们的价值远在红宝⽯之上。从挫折中得到知识将使你更加明智和坚强，也就是说您⽐以往任何时候更有能⼒⽣存。你从来没有真正认识⾃⼰，或通过逆境的检验认识到您的朋友的⼒量，直到两者经受逆境的考验。对所有⼈⽽⾔，这种认知是⼀个真正的礼物。这是痛苦的胜利⽐我取得的任何资格有着更⾼的价值。
给我⼀部时间机器，我会告诉21岁的⾃⼰：个⼈的幸福在于明⽩⽣活并不是看你的所得或成就。你的资历、简历，都不是你的⽣活，虽然你会遇到很多和我同龄或者更⽼⼀点的⼈依然混淆两者。⽣活是困难的，复杂的，超出任何⼈的控制。谦恭地认识到这⼀点将使你历经沧桑后能够更好的⽣存。
想象⼒的重要性
我的第⼆个主题：想象⼒的重要性，因为这是重建我⽣活的⼀部分。想象⼒不仅是⼈类独具能⼒，设想还不存在的事物是所有发明和创新的源泉。这种改造和揭露的能⼒，使我们能够对⾃⼰未经历的苦难者产⽣同理⼼。
在我20多岁时，尽管我可以在午餐时间⾥悄悄写故事，可为了付房租，我做的主要⼯作是在伦敦总部的⼤赦国际研究部门。在我的⼩办公室，我看到了⼈们在匆忙中写的信，这些信是从极权主义政权那⾥偷运出来的。那些⼈冒着被监禁的危险，告知外⾯的世界他们那⾥正在发⽣的事情。我看到那些⽆迹可寻的⼈的照⽚——由他们的家⼈和朋友铤⽽⾛险地送到⼤赦国际来的。我看过拷问受害者的证词和被害的照⽚，我也读过笔迹、⽬击证⼈的供词以及即决审判和处决的罪犯的档案。我有很多的合作者是前政治犯，他们已离开家园流离失所，或逃亡流放，因为他们⼤胆地怀疑政府的民主问
犯的档案。我有很多的合作者是前政治犯，他们已离开家园流离失所，或逃亡流放，因为他们⼤胆地怀疑政府的民主问题。来我们办公室的访客有告密者以及想了解迫害真相的⼈。
我永远不会忘记：⼀个⾮洲酷刑的受害者——⼀名当时⽐我还⼩的年轻男⼦，他因在故乡的悲惨经历导致精神错乱。当他在摄像机前讲述被残暴的摧残的时候，他颤抖失控。他⽐我稍⾼⼀点，但当时看来却像个脆弱的孩童。后来，我被安排护送他到地铁站，这名⽣活已被残酷地打乱的男⼦，⼩⼼翼翼地握着我的⼿，祝我未来⽣活幸福!
不同于这个星球上的任何其他⽣物，⼈类可以学习理解未经历过的东西。他们可以设⾝处地为别⼈着想当然，这是⼀种能⼒就像我虚构的魔法世界⼀样。这在道德上也是中⽴的。⼀个⼈可能会利⽤这种能⼒去操纵、或控制，但也有很多⼈选择去了解或同情。
很多⼈⼀点也不喜欢锻炼⾃⼰的想象⼒，他们选择待在舒适的⽣活范围内，从来不⿇烦地去想想如果⾃⼰出⽣在别处⼀切会怎样。他们拒绝听到尖叫声或向笼⼦⾥窥视，他们可以封闭⾃⼰的内⼼。只要痛苦不触及他们个⼈，他们可以拒绝去了解。我可能会因诱惑⽽嫉妒那样⽣活的⼈，除了我不认为他们会⽐我少做噩梦。选择住在狭窄的空间可导致某种形式的精神⼴场恐惧症，并给⾃⼰带来恐惧感。我认为不想看到更多怪物的⼈，他们常常更害怕。更甚的是，那些选择不同情的⼈可能激活真正的怪兽，因为我们⾃⼰没有严惩邪恶，冷漠与⽆视却让我们犯下了邪恶的共谋罪。私营企业主不能入党
在21岁时，我从古典⽂学中学到很多知识。其中之⼀我所不明⽩的是，希腊作家普鲁塔克所说的：我们内⼼的实现将改变外在现实。那是⼀个多么惊⼈的论断，并在我们⽣活的每天被⽆数次论证。这在
雅兹迪人某种程度上表明，我们与外部世界有逃不掉的⽠葛。事实上，我们以⾃⼰的存在来接触其他⼈的⽣命。
但哈佛⼤学2008届的毕业⽣们，你们中的多少⼈会去触及他⼈的⽣命呢？你们的智慧、努⼒⼯作的能⼒以及所受的教育将给予你们独特的地位和责任。即使您的国籍把你与别⼈分开了，你们绝⼤部份仍属于世界上仅存的超级⼤国。你们表决的⽅式，你们⽣活的⽅式，你们抗议的⽅式，你们给⾃⼰的政府带来的压⼒，其影响⼒将超越你们的国界，这是你们的特权，也是你们的负担。
如果您选择使⽤您的地位和影响⼒去代表那些没有发⾔权的⼈发出声⾳；如果您不仅去帮助强者，⽽且还会同情并帮扶弱者；如果你会设⾝处地为不如你的⼈着想，那么，您的存在将不仅是你家族的骄傲，也是⽆数因你帮助⽽过上幸福⽣活的⼈的骄傲。我们不需要魔法来改变世界，我们⾃⾝已经拥有了需要的所有⼒量：我们有能⼒更好地想象。
我的演讲也接近尾声了。对你们，我有最后⼀个希望，也是我在21岁时就⼀直在思考的。毕业那天坐在我⾝边的朋友将是我终⾝的朋友。他们是我的孩⼦的教⽗母，是我在遇到⿇烦时可以求助的⼈，是当我⽤他们的姓名作为⾷死徒的名字时⽽不会起诉我的朋友（译者注：⾷死徒是哈利波特中的⼈物）。
在我们毕业的时候，我们因⽆尽的爱⽽在此相聚。我们有共同的永不再有的经历。当然，如果我们中
的任何⼈竞选⾸相，那么今天的照⽚将是极为宝贵的证明。所以，今天我可以给你们的，没有⽐同伴的友谊更好的祝福了。
明天，我希望你们即使记不得我的名字，你还记得那些塞内加，他是我在罗马⽂学著作中结识的另⼀位哲学家，帮助我在我失去⼯作之时，寻到古⽼的⽣活智慧：
⽣活就像故事⼀样，不在乎长度，⽽在于质量。这才是问题的关键。
我在此祝⼤家⽣活愉快！⾮常感谢!
英⽂原⽂：
President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers,凌家滩
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 honour, but the weeks of fear and nausea I’ve endured at the thought of giving this commencement address have made me lose weight. 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 Gryffindors' reunion.
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. This liberating discovery enables me to proceed without any fear that I might inadvertently influence you to abandon promising careers in business, law or politics for the giddy delights of becoming a gay wizard.
You see? If all you remember in years to come is the 'gay wizard' joke, I've still come out ahead of Baroness Mary Warnock. Achievable goals - the first step to self-improvement.
Actually, I have wracked my mind and heart for what I ought to say to you today. I have asked myself what I wish I had known at my own graduation, and what important lessons I have learned in the 21 years that has expired between that day and this.
I have come up with two answers. On this wonderful day when we are gathered together to celebrate your academic success, I have decided to talk to you about the benefits of failure. And as you stand on the threshold of what is sometimes called 'real life', I want to extol the crucial importance of imagination.
These may seem quixotic or paradoxical choices, but bear with me.
Looking back at the 21-year-old that I was at graduation, is a slightly uncomfortable experience for the 42-year-old that she has become. Half my lifetime ago, I was striking an uneasy balance between the ambition I had for myself, and what those closest to me expected of me.
I was convinced that the only thing I wanted to do, ever, was to write novels. However, my parents, both of whom came from impoverished backgrounds and neither of whom had been to college, took the view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that could never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension.
imagination was an amusing personal quirk that could never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension.
I know the irony strikes like with the force of a cartoon anvil now, but…突发公共卫生事件与传染病疫情监测信息报告管理办法
They had hoped that I would take a vocational degree; I wanted to study English Literature. A compromise was reached that in retrospect satisfied nobody, and I went up to study Modern Languages. Hardly had my parents' car rounded the corner at the end of the road than I ditched German and scuttled off down the Classics corridor.
I cannot remember telling my parents that I was studying Classics; they might well have found out for the first time on graduation day. Of all the subjects on this planet, I think they would have been hard put to name one less useful than Greek mythology when it came to securing the keys to an executive bathroom.
I would like to make it clear, in parenthesis, that I do not blame my parents for their point of view. There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you. What is more, I cannot criticise my parents for hoping that I would never experience poverty. They had been poor themselves, and I have since been poor, and I quite agree with them that it is not an ennobling experience. Poverty entgto2012
ails fear, and stress, and sometimes depression; it means a thousand petty humiliations and hardships. Climbing out of poverty by your own efforts, that is indeed something on which to pride yourself, but poverty itself is romanticised only by fools.
What I feared most for myself at your age was not poverty, but failure.
At your age, in spite of a distinct lack of motivation at university, where I had spent far too long in the coffee bar writing stories, and far too little time at lectures, I had a knack for passing examinations, and that, for years, had been the measure of success in my life and that of my peers.
I am not dull enough to suppose that because you are young, gifted and well-educated, you have never known hardship or heartache. Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the Fates, and I do not for a moment suppose that everyone here has enjoyed an existence of unruffled privilege and contentment.
However, the fact that you are graduating from Harvard suggests that you are not very well-acquainted with failure. You might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success. Indeed, your conception of failure might not be too far from the average person's idea of success, so high have you already flown academically.
Ultimately, we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, but the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it. So I think it fair to say that by any conventional measure, a mere seven years after my graduation day, I had failed on an epic scale. An exceptionally short-lived marriage had imploded, and I was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless. The fears my parents had had for me, and that I had had for myself, had both come to pass, and by every usual standard, I was the biggest failure I knew.
Now, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun. That period of my life was a dark one, and I had no idea that there was going to be what the press has since represented as a kind of fairy tale resolution. I had no idea how far the tunnel extended, and for a long time, any light at the end of it was a hope rather than a reality.
So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I
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