JK Rowling: 15 quotes on her birthday

To mark the birthday of the remarkable and prolific J.K. Rowling, here are some of her wonderful words.

2. The power of the imagination – for good and for evil

Lefteris Pitarakis

"Unlike any other creature on this planet, human beings can learn and understand without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people's places. Of course, this is a power like my brand of fictional magic that is morally neutral. One might use such power to manipulate or control, just as much as to understand or sympathize." 

J.K. Rowling, 2008 commencement address at Harvard University

2 of 15
You've read 3 of 3 free articles. Subscribe to continue.
CSM logo

Why is Christian Science in our name?

Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The Christian Science Church, and we’ve always been transparent about that.

The Church publishes the Monitor because it sees good journalism as vital to progress in the world. Since 1908, we’ve aimed “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind,” as our founder, Mary Baker Eddy, put it.

Here, you’ll find award-winning journalism not driven by commercial influences – a news organization that takes seriously its mission to uplift the world by seeking solutions and finding reasons for credible hope.

Explore values journalism About us