Terry Pratchett "The Importance of Being Amazed about Absolutely Everything"

Professor Sir Terry Pratchett Inaugural Lecture "The Importance of Being Amazed about Absolutely Everything". 4 November 2010, Trinity College Dublin
Also see video at • Video

[@acakaranovic]

This master of ceremonies guy looks exactly like how I imagined Ponder Stibbons to look like.

[@UnicornStarShip]

I watch interviews, documentaries, lectures by Sir Terry Pratchett and I think I admire him most for his personality, his disposition, his courage and tenacity in the face of the greatest challenges facing him. Then I read another book of his and remember that what I most admire about him is what a damn fine writer he is.

[@MrSamulai]

I wonder how the man who designed the hat managed to resist the urge to write "WIZZARD" on it.

[@PiratePowell]

Just gave a standing ovation to a youtube video, I regret nothing.

[@TinyFoxTom]

Yer a wizzard, Terry!

[@HenkJanBakker]

I predict this man will be as famous as Shakespeare, Lewis Carol and Doctor Who over an equal amount of time. The man has wit wisdom and humility, and the combination makes it hard to take him serious as a writer. But he will be loved by many generations to come.

[@simonholyoak8869]

The sort of man, whose passing leaves the world a gloomier and less joyful place.

[@bendover4851]

I'm new to terry's work, saw The Color of magic and i thought it was great so i said "I'll check out the book and that was the beginning of the adventure for me and later my daughter because i can later read them to her. Sir Terry Pratchett you are a WORD SMITH a LITERARY WIZARD and I say THANK YOU! for everything.

[@garbleduser]

I miss you Sir Terry 😞

[@bruffie1]

As a writer, no-one has had as much influence on my life as Terry Pratchett, to the point where I struggle to read anyone else! I thought it was because the humour was so close to home, but then I read "Nation" and realized what a wonderful storyteller he was.

[@olavthehairy]

A nice man with an incurable disease writes books that bring joy to millions.

[@DrewRadley]

A true genius, a wonder of our time. There will never be another like him, and I thank all the powers that I was around to read his works in his lifetime.

[@HenkJanBakker]

@Kingscrib I wholeheartedly agree with you. And I am aware of his awards. The point I was making is that the *'mainstream literary world'* still views Sir Terry's work as an oddity. I do not share their reserve. I for one think of him as one of the great minds of our time. Seriously. ;^)

[@MollyBlueDawn]

The first time I watched this, almost 3 years ago, I thought "Oh, he can't give his own speech, that's so sad"... until I witnessed the wonder of the Terry and Rob double act. Now I have realized the Rob Wilkins is one of my favourite people, and I had to come back and watch this again.

[@Mandelbrotmat]

Ladies and Gentleman of the world.....give that sitting man a toast, a standing ovation, a nobel prize, and a pint!

[@DrKoobie]

Sir Terry Pratchett is introduced at 0:06:35.

[@SarahSnellPym]

This is beautiful, sounds like my school days! Even though I was an 80's child. Terry has been an inspiration to me - to the point that I've even got my dad writing at 60+.

[@Nagassh]

If you don't think Pratchett has done noble work, and that's discounting any alzheimers and assisted death / suicide work, which I suppose you can label as self serving, even if they do help millions of others - he has done a hell of a lot of work, be it fighting to avoid orangutan extinction, to raising the issues his books raise. He may not have thrown his life away, but he's done something far more noble by living, writing and speaking.

[@davidharkin8554]

A master tale spinner. Sadly missed:(

[@TheLordTimor]

in case you have not read Carlyle, look at it this way. Someone calling sir terry a hero, is not talking about a soldier, freedom fighter, philanthrop or such. He is talking about a writer, in which case his opinion can be supported if you keep in mind what sir terry has done for the entire genre of postmodern speculative fiction. What do you expect him to do? Run into a burning house to save a child? What has that to do with his writing?

[@angelavincentanonymousart8345]

a man everyone can learn from and Terry will be greatly missed and what a character with a genial mind

[@walteredstates]

ahhh, the water cycle joke at the end!...😂... that made me chuckle uncontrollably.. what a fun guy...😁

[@91Kingscrib84]

@PuppyZwolle 'Hard to take seriously as a writer'??? Well, Trinity College Dublin, known for some of the world's great 'wits' would disagree...as would the myriad readers who have found his books indispensible reading. To say nothing of the awards & honors he's been acredited over the years. Unfortunately, I won't have the chance of seeing him interact with the audience & 'stunt Pratchett' mid-speech, as he does at critical moments & to much audience delight! So I enjoy these videos. Seriously!

[@ozzz55]

Terry pratchett deserves every honor EVER

[@paranoidrabbit]

I appologize the lateness of this reply, but even if you don't agree with someone, you don't have to disrespect or even dislike them. That goes for belief as well. Even if you do not respect their faith or religion you don't have to disrespect the person.

[@heyyyyyynow]

Well done, that man!

[@tchenning]

I can't imagine a world without Terry Pratchett: He always have been so important for me and my world! He's a part of it and will always be.

[@adeelsk4]

first of all, love your name :D and i totally agree. i am in love with his books. read everything he wrote. and most of his books i have read scores of times. literally.. God bless this man. he is amazing.

[@cjorhnx]

"And I have approved of it."

[@nickalberda1]

@FreemanPwnsHard Yup most if not all his books are a real good read for adults.

[@meikusje]

All of the Discworld books are certainly suitable for adults as well, but I'm 20 and I love ALL his books, so it depends on your standards I guess.

[@MargaretDukhovny]

Somebody make SUBTITLES please!!!

[@Handitar]

Terry Pratchett is absolutely brilliant, bless him.

[@jampanda1568]

I wish I could take his class. But I'm living halfway around the world.

[@Tehinke]

I want that chair!

[@reverselogic]

Skip to 07:15 :)

[@Bakllazaan]

subtitles would have helped :(

[@somonuel]

i agree, questioning authority is our responsibility, the government however feels threatened at this. The reason behind their fear is because they have been lying to us. So we should look up whatis-theplan

[@somonuel]

@twdarkflame I do believe your right about that being Asimov, can't remember the exact novel. Heinlein touched on some ideas too.

[@anniegraves6068]

Do you have a favorite book of his that you would recommend?

[@TomerBoyarski]

i will not accept any tyranny, even that of heaven

[@TomerBoyarski]

this video should be renamed: the life of terry pratchet

[@thelostirishmanmik]

this is and extraordinary look into one of the best minds of our times.

[@taniamclewis]

He is an amazing man

[@BistaNadig]

All of them are for adults.

[@sherlockholmeslives.1605]

Earth's moon is 2160 miles in diameter. Pluto is 1199 miles in diameter.

[@Handitar]

Daleks don't delete people. Cybermen delete people.

[@apocreg11]

What a genius

[@fowlee42]

@twdarkflame well hes tried to rewrite some of his books, but obviously the publishers and family members and whatnot stopped him before he could

[@PrettyOdds]

My Hero ...

[@ShadeOnTheUtube]

A coat hanger has a certain nobility of purpose, so the phrase must be rather embracing and flexible indeed.

[@Xiphias52]

I fear you may have failed to understand just how embracing and flexible is the phrase 'nobility of purpose'...

[@Profedrybicki]

Looks like he's quite enjoying going down this trouser leg of time...B-)

[@Jcolinsol]

I guess it depends on what you consider to be courageous and noble.

[@brickct123]

@Naglefar1988 I hope we find a cure fast enough to save him.

[@TheLordTimor]

Ever read Carlyle's Hero as a man of letters?

[@Mishahad]

I would rather meet Terry Pratchett..:D

[@Peta1970]

Thank you Sir Terry :) love your accent Rob ;)

[@TimeLadyDT]

@Naglefar1988 or a word processor.

[@brickct123]

@666Gear Sod everybody else! ^^

[@TheMrArgentium]

thank you for that, most useful.

[@Cubelarooso]

A hat? What is this, TF2U?

[@avoneefje]

wow what a fun speech!

[@Croyles]

nearly all of them.

[@fowlee42]

Wats depressing is the fact that this man now has such severe alzheimers that he keep on trying to write books that he's already written, and is soon going to die. This man is a genius, and great author

[@turtleanton6539]

:)

[@Shinisoup]

What did Terry say right at the begining when the Dean was talking about Wyrd sisters? I can't quite understand it's a little muffled?

[@keasyman7084]

I love Pratchett's books, they're my favourites. But he pisses me off when he willingly accepts to peak in places such as Trinity College. Religiously entwined. It's hypocritical and you don't see him being so flippant as in other previous videos.