【2008年JK罗琳:哈佛毕业典礼演讲(中英文对照)】J.K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard Commencement Speech (English and Chinese Translation)

在2008年的哈佛大学毕业典礼上，著名作家J.K. 罗琳（J.K. Rowling）发表了一次令人印象深刻的演讲。她以自己独特的经历和人生感悟，向毕业生们传达了关于失败、想象力和幸福的深刻见解。

J.K. Rowling’s 2008 Harvard Commencement Speech

Good afternoon, everyone.

It is an honor to be here today. I have always believed that the most important thing about a university is not just the education it provides, but the people you meet and the experiences you gain.

I was asked to speak today about failure. But I don’t think I am qualified to talk about failure. I have never been particularly good at it. I have failed in many ways — financially, emotionally, and personally. But I have also learned from those failures. And I believe that failure can be a powerful teacher.

There is a difference between being defeated and being beaten. The first is a temporary state; the second is a permanent condition. I have been defeated many times, but I have never been beaten.

I want to tell you something that I have often said: “Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be able to do what you love.” But I also know that the road to doing what you love is often long and difficult. It requires courage, perseverance, and sometimes, a lot of patience.

The world we live in is full of challenges. There are problems that seem too big to solve, and there are people who feel powerless to change them. But I believe that each one of us has the power to make a difference. We may not be able to change the entire world, but we can change our own lives — and in doing so, we can inspire others to do the same.

I also want to talk about imagination. Imagination is not just for children or for writers. It is a vital part of our human experience. It allows us to see beyond the present, to dream of a better future, and to create solutions to the problems we face.

Finally, I want to talk about happiness. Happiness is not something that can be bought or sold. It is something that comes from within. It is found in the small moments of life — in the laughter of friends, in the warmth of a home, in the quiet joy of a book.

So, as you leave this university and step into the world, I hope you will remember these things: that failure is not the end, that imagination is a powerful tool, and that true happiness comes from within.

Thank you, and congratulations on your graduation.

J.K. 罗琳2008年哈佛毕业典礼演讲

下午好，各位。

今天能来到这里，我感到非常荣幸。我一直认为，大学最重要的不是它提供的教育，而是你遇到的人和获得的经历。

有人让我谈谈失败，但我并不觉得自己有资格谈论失败。我并不是特别擅长失败。我在很多方面都失败过——经济上、情感上，甚至个人生活中。但我也从这些失败中学到了很多。我相信，失败可以成为一位强大的老师。

有一种区别，就是被打败和被击溃。前者是一种暂时的状态，而后者则是一种永久的状况。我曾多次被击败，但从没有被击溃。

我想告诉你们一些我经常说的话：“没有什么比做自己喜欢的事情更令人兴奋了。”但我也知道，通往做自己喜欢事情的道路往往是漫长而艰难的。它需要勇气、坚持，有时还需要很大的耐心。

我们生活在一个充满挑战的世界里。有些问题看起来太大，无法解决；有些人觉得自己无力改变它们。但我相信，我们每个人都有能力做出改变。也许我们无法改变整个世界，但我们可以改变自己的生活——而这样做，也能激励他人去这么做。

我还想谈谈想象力。想象力不只是儿童或作家才有的东西。它是人类体验的重要部分。它让我们超越现状，梦想一个更美好的未来，并为所面临的问题找到解决方案。

最后，我想谈谈幸福。幸福不是可以购买或出售的东西。它来自内心。它存在于生活的点滴之中——朋友的笑声，家的温暖，以及阅读时的宁静喜悦。

所以，当你们离开这所大学，步入社会时，我希望你们记住这些：失败不是终点，想象力是一种强大的工具，真正的幸福来自于内心。

谢谢大家，祝贺你们毕业。