Stephen Fry | Cambridge Union

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[@stevesandford1437]

Interviewed him once, he was truly charismatic and charming. Noticing a used ashtray upon the table, I inquired as to whether I might smoke. He responded, "Oh, I'd be practically offended if you didn't, dear..." We ended up having a marvelous conversation while drinking coffee and brandies (at his suggestion...) When his assistant/PA arrived to inform me my allotted time was up, Stephen Fry asked if there were anymore interviews set up following mine? When it became apparent that there were not, Stephen said, " Well, perhaps we might talk some more, I don't think I'm very busy until a little later this evening... Always supposing YOU (meaning me...) don't have anything more pressing to do of course?" (I didn't!!!) He utterly charmed me and I got the real impression that he enjoyed our interaction. (That isn't always how it works...) xx SF

[@rupertdanbury7020]

I would feel so inadequate in his presence but would love to meet him .

[@Thomas...191]

That's a beautiful story, and totally fits my positive bias towards the man.

[@V4lairiel]

So jealous!

[@Khushi-Shah]

That's wonderful. What do you do ? Journalist, reporter, etc ?

[@ahsanzee]

That sounds amazing. I fear I'd be annoyingly inquisitive if i was in the same situation. I'd just devolve into 4 year questions like favorite color, dinosaur, etc.

[@SteveDeHaven]

If I cannot live in a world that has Oscar Wilde in it, at least I can live in one that has Stephen Fry. All joy to you, sir!

[@tytn9978]

Thank you for expressing a thought that I was feeling but could not find the words to do my feeling justice!

[@ckh2815]

“Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.” - Oscar Wilde

[@GarethE94]

Stephen, despite his high intellect, is just the most eloquent and graceful man who condescends none and empowers every person not only in that room but everyone watching or listening to this video

[@livb6945]

Agreed, but why would high intellect be contrary to grace and eloquence?

[@GarethE94]

@@livb6945 it’s a good question. Stephen could easily have went down the path of condescendence, pomposity and arrogance but instead clearly is driven to equip others with his knowledge and understanding. Credit to him. We need more people like him.

[@kylehardy2235]

Well said

[@GarethE94]

@Monya Gal I am speaking for myself

[@kylehardy2235]

@Monya Gal You could have just not commented… such a weird mentality

[@kittykatja5961]

In this mad mad world at this time, listening to this warm and intelligent man, who is world's away from my world, it gives me hope for mankind.

[@franitafranita]

@Polymath Entertainment Yourself and you alone ?

[@mopnem]

Kittykat needs a safe space..but yeah fry is that guy

[@RB-ib3mo]

Unfortunately Stephen fry is a little bit intellectually dishonest. Which is a pity because I don't dislike him but he plays the game and won't rock the boat with a truth, preferring to instead tell either a lie or by cleverly misleading. I'm sure he is a very nice man who you could easily get along with but he is definitely in "their" pockets. I'm pretty sure he is a mason also. Nevertheless I wish him nothing but the best

[@Neptunion118]

When was the world ever not mad? Please provide an example.

[@revbenf6870]

Funny how the replies merely amplify kittykat's point...

[@chrismarshall1375]

I could listen to Stephen Fry recite a shopping list and remain mesmerised.

[@katking6820]

Or better yet Marcel Proust’s elephantine Remembrance of Things Past.

[@chasleask8533]

Actually I need some spuds . Put them on .

[@wvhollargirl7549]

Gentlemen Fry. You have shared so much enlightenment. I am a WV Coal Miners daughter with little education from great public schools. Always an avid reader, I thank you for validation of my time seeking and for my curiosity ❤️. I was born curious and I seek to quench this thirst. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH

[@curtandoscar]

What a pleasure this was, from start to finish. I could listen to this man all day.

[@donnavorce8856]

Cambridge Union - thank you for sharing this lecture from Stephen Fry. Very enjoyable.

[@ingenuity168]

Stephen is a gift to mankind. Thank you sir. 🙏🏻❤

[@stevenmclaren2730]

I love Stephen Fry. To listen to him is a joy.

[@sumpterino]

I have never felt a drive to meet any of my heroes or idols, be they musical artists, writers or anything else, but what i wouldn't give to spend an evening sitting down in a couple of comfortable chairs and discussing literally anything with Stephen Fry. In my mind he's one of the few treasures we still have around today.

[@chrisharris5497]

Absolutely mate, he's the 21st century Fred Dibnah, both could sit down and fascinate you until daybreak.

[@VeggieBackGarden]

@@chrisharris5497 What a great comment, I couldn't agree more.

[@sz5876]

Discuss his heterophobia and insulting ideas about women not enjoying normal sex.

[@carenmontgomery2384]

oh my goodness! I have a list of people I'd absolutely positively love to spend a day with and Stephen is most definitely on that list...

[@judithcressey1682]

​@@chrisharris5497Fred Dibnah was a wholly distinguished man who made a real contribution. Fry is not. Horrible.

[@HitchcockBrunette]

We are sure lucky to have this man ❤

[@athlone1975]

That was utterly brilliant to watch. What a charming, intelligent and brilliant man Stephen Fry is.

[@sub-jec-tiv]

Love this man. His audiobook reading of Mythos is, to me, a contemporary classic and will forever be one of my favorite ways to fall asleep.

[@williamrobinson7435]

Wonderful! I'm a lifetime fan of Mr Fry. Thanks for posting. 👏❤️

[@cambridgeunionsoc1815]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@eliasaldahan9295]

A lovely man with a flourishing mind. I could listen to his stories all day.

[@hsb2164]

Stephen can transform even the most ordinary and mundane into something dreamy and beautiful ('... how the numbers stand proud of the card' in referring to embossed numbers on credit cards). He is an aural delight and inspires me to expand my mind and vocabulary. What a beautiful soul, and a gem for the ages. 💜

[@aussiechris5904]

Agreed.. "a way with words" is often overused, but he is great to listen to

[@Oodle-ox2vf]

I always enjoy listening to Stephen. He is such an intelligent, and interesting gentleman.. 🙂

[@zen_art_of_guardian_sudoku]

The comment from the audience member thanking Stephen for being a huge benefit and role model, I'm sure is not in a minority of one. SF has given pleasure and inspiration to countless people over the years and I think whenever we see him, we imagine him as our friend - even if we have never met him. If one's goal in life is to leave the world in a slightly better state than when we were brought into it, there is no one better to emulate than Stephen Fry.

[@MrCanis4]

I'm not English, never even been to England. But I love what and how Steven tells his stories.

[@donnavorce8856]

If you get a chance be sure to visit. It's a wonderful place. Start a pen friendship with someone. They'll probably invite you over once you've become friends. Cheers

[@jlex1049]

I fell in love with this man during a dark time in my own mental sanity. Fell in love with his humor, his many contributions to comedy, to art, to language....Literally brought me out of a dark place.

[@rollermusic]

I have long loved Stephen Fry, but this is likely the richest display of his brilliant humanity. Good man, Stephen - thank you so much!

[@davidgoldberg5076]

Stephen Fry really is not only a British national treasure but should be considered "World heritage". As Swedish-German national I am convinced that someone like Stephen can only originate in Britain but should belong to all mankind. I say that without being jealous, but with admiration for the British culture. I would extend that to the Irish culture, since Oscar Wilde is - I can imagine - Stephens alter ego. Having read Oscar's plays and books and marvelled about the language and ideas in the 1990's, I went to cinema to see the movie "Wilde", not knowing Stephen at that time, because he was not very well known in Germany, Sweden or in France, where I lived at that time. Before watching the movie, I was a big admirer of Jude Law (who played Lord Douglas), but when I left the cinema, I was in love with Stephen. I tried to find out more about him and read his books etc., watched his documentaries, and even listend to him reading HP (then I was already in my 40s). Listening to him is addictive - and my husband agrees to this....we are very lucky to be able to, as he mentioned, feel 8 feet tall listening to him. Please continue inviting him - Thank you, Cambridge Union!

[@The-Real-Honest-Truth]

Your Swedish German! Like Andy Richter!

[@pseudonayme7717]

I do hope you have seen him in 'QI' and 'Blackadder' as well. He was awesome in them both and you will enjoy them I'm sure👍

[@edmundironside9435]

@@The-Real-Honest-Truth Only he *is* into that funny stuff

[@kayess2634]

What a lovely comment, it’s so true - Stephen is “World Heritage” - he is universal, he belongs to us all.

[@davidgoldberg5076]

@@pseudonayme7717 Thank you - I saw a lot of his QI shows, but still have 'Blackadder' as a treat for the future. I immensely enjoy his conversations in programs such as the Origins Podcast with Lawrence Krauss, The Munk Debates, or alongside Christopher Hitchens at Intelligence Squared.

[@stregalilith]

I absolutely adore this man and I could listen to him all day

[@AlexFlanderzzz]

This man would be a national treasure, despite what he considers the luck of meeting future acting colleagues. His genius would have shone through regardless and his gracefulness would inspire us, as it does today.

[@TheLegenDacster]

An international human treasure.

[@st20332]

A human treasure

[@hayleyannamathieson7261]

I adore this glorious man. Intelligent, wise, witty, kind and so beloved by many. When my depression is at its worst and all appears grim, I watch Steven Fry and I feel a little more hopeful with the world again. Thank You Steven! 🤗❤

[@craigdavies8099]

I hope you are having a good day, remember you are a great person and you can make a positive impact on the people around you. Smile, it really helps!

[@pontypandy1]

An amazing human being . Stephen really is a rare breed.

[@GildaLee27]

Very grateful to have this talk available. Thank you all, Cambridge Union. For a bipolar guy, Stephen Fry is far saner than most. A quotation of his that I read a couple decades ago has become like a personal motto: One must be humble before the facts. Fry's mind & life encompass so much of authentic humanity, and as the years go on, he becomes even more compassionate and mellow. He is a magnificent human being. However, for the record, I disagree with him about how his comedy success is mainly down to luck. He seems to have been exceptionally talented from early on, at least from the first season of Jeeves & Wooster. May he live long!

[@traceyearl9468]

If only we could have World Leaders as intelligent , insightful and as honest as Mr Stephen Fry what a very different world we all would live in Thank You for you xxx

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

We truly are blessed to be alive at the same time as Stephen Fry

[@maridebhul]

When I was a little girl, we too had a mobile library that came to our village every week. A wonderful idea for philanthropists or anybody with money to get behind, fund, and arrange. So many areas in the world in desperate need of such, even now in 2022. How is that still possible?

[@globe2555]

Just like Lawrence Krauss said: I can listen to Stephen Fry for hours and still want more.

[@MrVaypour]

Ah yes, every now & then it's always good to have a new Fry up.

[@pseudonayme7717]

hehe. We see what you did there😉 Now that he is with beard, I'm going to add Stephen to the list of great atheists who look like God in spite of not believing in him😛

[@gregoryburne5251]

A perfect example of a remarkably great human being.

[@jody024]

Savage opening with that remark on the "Royal" family! Love it. Reminding people of the fact they're Germans that changed their name to an English one.

[@kruse8888]

A true master of storytelling. Its an emotional journey that leaves your crying of joy.

[@horisontial]

This man is a beacon of light and love.

[@Atanu]

Distance, in time or in space, lends perspective. Fry is a wise man.

[@aclark903]

Nope.

[@tbwatch88]

oh steve, if you said "Lady Fandimere's Wind" on purpose I LOVE you even more. nary a chuckle from the good Cantabridgians. score one for OX.

[@patriklindholm7576]

How superior isn't Mr Fry as a speaker when recurrently succeeding to address the audience with humility in a manner that makes each and everyone feel like it's a dialogue one has not only longed for but needed as well.

[@flamehairdisaster1]

What an incredibly humble and gentle human being. He emanates light and love just the same as Kundun.

[@islandhopperstuart]

The words 'National Treasure' are often over-used yet, in the case of Stephen Fry, they are wholly appropriate. What a speaker, and what a journey!

[@Outspoken.Humanist]

I could listen to him for hours. The voice, the humour and, above all, the intellect are mesmerising.

[@jacobzaranyika9334]

Thank you🙏 Steven Fry Thank you🙏 Cambridge Union.

[@TXMEDRGR]

My mother taking us to the Library's bookmobile is one of my favorite childhood memories.

[@wvhollargirl7549]

I Won a lottery watching this. I'VE learned so much about myself. Thank you Sir Fry.

[@wvhollargirl7549]

I teared up several times. HE touched my heart with his life experiences and his assessment of reality. MR. FRY, thank you from a skinny little girl from Pigeon Roost Hollar in WV, America.

[@mojo_guru4448]

One of the few humans in the world who speaks proper English with exceptional grammar.

[@livb6945]

He was always handsome. This old sage look is gorgeous 😍

[@icypher]

Is it odd that I find myself applauding in front of my computer screen for the young Hungarian woman who started the journey and made it to Cambridge because she read a book by SF.

[@jonatherton]

What a brilliant series, and thank you for sharing this. The insights here are wonderfully diverse and well worth the time. Fry is such a lovely and valuable voice today. Long may we hear him.

[@juanpablomiranda8955]

A world treasure, Stephen Fry… thanks for posting. Love from Chile!

[@etch-a-sketch]

I love Stephen Fry. A great mind and story-teller. I could listen to him for hours on end. ❤

[@pitulanek]

You actually can listen to him for hours on end! I often do ;)

[@peterjanvanbijnen226]

When Stephen speaks it always an pleasure

[@johnveitch7410]

For him. One trick pony without the bravery of the people he wishes he was.

[@blue_tree_meadow]

Stephen Fry would be the one, "Celebrity," that I'd love to spend an evening with, kind, intellectual, and a national treasure.

[@jeaniebottle6758]

He is on my wish list to spend some time with too, to talk & listen also.

[@sheilac5319]

This is wonderful! Thank you for making it available.

[@paulsolon6229]

He has fine mind Is well spoken Seems to be kind person Is endlessly curious

[@scekkel]

Once you have follow Fry for a while you start to hear the same things over and over, but for him they never become boring. Be it the smallest new detail or because of a new word, he as much as Wilde did, brings you up to his level. He never never talks down to anyone, he has the spirit and gift of language, once such as I, could only dream of, because he just speaks to you in a relatable and interesting way, where you are never in doubt what he means or is making fun of. He is just amazing and I always feel as if he is speaking to me.

[@jackmichaelpeter]

I got to shake your hand once on the steps of an Edinburgh theatre. What an honour

[@beniteztheconman]

Hahahaha

[@gloifti]

"Lady Fandermere's Wind"!!?... I'll have to find a way of making use of this!

[@Kaijuus]

This man is a National Treasure!

[@Whatnews2]

Wow. Stephen's talk helps me in so many ways. He made sense of my addictions, mental anguish and creative yearning.

[@sheilac5319]

Oh Stephen-were you really in so much pain? I mean, clearly you were-more than we could have ever known, and yet you saw it through. Thank you ever so much for sharing that. I understand a little more now, about how excruciating it must have been for you. Know that learning of it's been a turning point for me.

[@ancientfuture9690]

I found that final part about Oscar Wilde's rise through history to be incredibly moving. Thank you, Mr. Fry.

[@dougimmel]

It was a joy, wasn't it, to watch the young fellow next to him SMILE as the story's point unfolded.

[@katerinak4164]

I love Stephen. What a wonderful, wonderful man !

[@helenrichards7866]

Wonderful,brilliant and so sweet…Thank goodness for his whit and his great story telling.

[@jackmichaelpeter]

Love you Stephen

[@mrminer071166]

DYING at Lady Fandemere's wind!

[@rajo741]

What a kind and gentle soul. And one delightfully funny funny man.

[@michaelmcgovern5906]

God I could listen to Him on an endless loop 🎶

[@robertbritt6134]

A beautiful soul and gifted orator. I wish he would take up the story of Alan Turing. We could use Stephens poetically humanistic comment on that great man destroyed by the society he served.

[@budd2nd]

Oh yes. What a wonderful idea Robert. I’d pay to see/hear that.

[@Madonnalitta1]

That really was a huge crime, to criminalise a man who had a huge part in the allies winning WW2.

[@budd2nd]

@@Madonnalitta1 Yes I totally agree with you. It’s just the leftover bigotry, that seeped into society from the Abrahamic holy books.

[@aussiechris5904]

He did tell a short story about Turing during an episode of QI, I can't remember what season though

[@running4fun863]

I absolutely love everything about Stephen Fry. He is my Mentor . Beautiful in every aspect.

[@rickedeckard2006]

What a beautiful man an every way.

[@sheilaseberini6079]

What special incredible man you are ! I saw you playing Oscar Wilde, you were so brilliant I fell in love with both of you, in fact you became one. Thank you always for your wit, command of our beautiful English language & pure deliciousness......love you dearly. Sheila

[@milosterwheeler2520]

How lovely that, unlike Oscar Wilde, Stephen can see how much he is loved and appreciated during his lifetime.

[@VincentFulco]

What a gentleman! Always an awesome speech

[@paulr.j.rosser2709]

Stephen Fry is a wonderful man ❤

[@carolking6355]

Absolutely wonderful ❤️

[@craigmarkfootball8183]

the most wonderful orator I have ever heard, this man personifies what is is to be human, his understanding and usage of language is a joy to behold. The universe is blessed by him.

[@mrtom3297]

The words on the gift of friendship in helping mental health are really apt.

[@glendagraves1637]

I could hardly wait for the mobile library to arrive in the summer! What a wonderful memory.

[@Gajdacsi61]

Being a Hungarian, I feel so proud that one of Stephen Fry's grandfathers came from Hungary apparently. "puszipajtás" ha-ha

[@guinnessharvey4476]

I’m just incredibly grateful that you didn’t leave us too early, Stephen. Thanks for sticking around . I’ve never met you but I consider you a dear friend

[@gailmackinnon7328]

I love it when Stephen talks about Norfolk because we have the same general memories of that time and place. I'm 4 years older than him and we lived a couple of miles from the village - and I use the term loosely - of Booton where he was brought up. Tiny place, but it's got one of the most glorious parish churches I've ever seen.

[@walker1812]

3:17 “Lady Fandermere’s Wind” ❤️

[@rachelclare8795]

There is such an incredible strength and warmth and intellect and humour about this man ,talking about my birthplace, Cambridge, where my father died recently,as peacefully as he was able, that for only the second time, for only two minutes, I cried.Stephen Fry, Thankyou so much for your stories and for what you do.You’re amazing!

[@aclark903]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[@aclark903]

@Polymath Entertainment She still lost her dad. Show some respect.

[@aclark903]

@Polymath Entertainment Fine.

[@themoxcast]

How great would a Bit More of Fry and Laurie be?

[@Dude0000]

Awful if done as a continuation. But a collaboration doing something worthwhile would be terrific. Stop him going on about being covered in dirt when we die for a second. Yeah, Stephen, if I was gay and engaged in that behaviour, that might be a welcome relief for me. But I choose to believe in something better.

[@BigDome1]

@@Dude0000 wat

[@andreasekler5313]

Wonderful...! Nothing less, nothing more😍

[@fpcoleman57]

Profoundly humbling. Thank you.

[@cbrunnkvist]

The true proportion of things that matter - what a beautiful way to end the session!

[@Evertonjazz]

wow, wonderful and beautiful from the start to the end

[@paulsolon6229]

He is honest. Esp w himself. Has inspected himself, has self-knowledge Values friends, values friendship Has a poets eye Has a sense of history and timing and proportion

[@willmpet]

When I graduated with an MBA in 1986 I took a battery of indicators, including a Myers-Briggs indicator. I registered as a INFP. And I thought, “you mean there’s other people LIKE me?” It was such a revelation!

[@limeBlender]

Have only just started watching, and am so happy to just hear him speak, his beautiful warm voice. Also quite desperate to know if he meant to say Mrs Fandemere’s Wind, because that’s a brilliantly vulgar joke and no one seemed to catch it.

[@fkafka64]

I'm absolutely sure he meant to say exactly that! Quintessential Fry.

[@TooshanSrivastava]

exciting and insightful; what a brilliant storyteller he is...thank you :)

[@pierre.a.larsen]

One of the candidates for MVP of Earth.

[@mariaescosura3972]

Wow, Mr Fry what a beautiful ending to such a great conversation you gave in this forum. It almost moved me as much as 'De Profundis' when I first read it in my early 20s.

[@cambridgeunionsoc1815]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@forsetigodofjusticeexcelle7506]

Few men have truly deserved the de facto title of "National Treasure" as much as Stephen Fry.

[@aclark903]

How British standards have slipped.

[@forsetigodofjusticeexcelle7506]

@@aclark903 Perhaps, It may also be an age thing, I was born in 91, in my childhood I experienced him in Blackadder, in my teens I saw him on QI, in my early 20's I saw him debating religion alongside Hitchens. And now in my 30's I see him in a world of woke idiots who use their sexuality as their only personality trait, and Stephen's accent has never magically changed to the "gay speak" they for some reason often end up having and his sexuality has never been the defining feature of his character despite the praise and profit that leaning on it would have given him in the modern day. I don't know what your personal opinions on him are, but those above are my reasons for being a fan.

[@wizardofoz1390]

A humble genius Empath compassionate soul

[@thecinematicmind]

Yes please