“I've never set out to teach anyone anything.”

— J.K. Rowling, Interview with screenwriter Steve Kloves, Chamber of Secrets DVD, February 2003

About J.K. Rowling

Born 1965

British author of the 'Harry Potter' series, who gave the Harvard commencement address 'The Fringe Benefits of Failure' in 2008.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all.”

“It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies; but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.”

“Now, I am not going to stand here and tell you that failure is fun.”

“For the things we have to learn before we can do, we learn by doing.”

“Eating and reading are two pleasures that combine admirably.”

“Isn't it a pleasure to study and practice what you have learned?”

“The end then of learning is to repair the ruins of our first parents.”

“One must learn to know oneself before knowing anything else.”

“And how do you teach thou shalt not kill? By killing.”