Oprah Winfrey at Howard University As posted on YouTube by NubiianVz

Commencements

• Oprah addresses Stanford grads in June 2008

Winfrey used her speech to the 4,666 graduates, to talk about dealing with failure. She emphasized the importance of persevering through bad situations and learning from them. Oprah Winfrey told the story of her Leadership Academy for Girls, a $40 million school she had built in South Africa that was rocked by controversy after opening when 1 of its employees was charged with sexually abusing students. Winfrey said she was devastated, but that investigating the incident and providing counseling to the students helped her learn from the situation.

• Howard University commencement in May 1997, to a crowd of 30,000

The media mogul brought down the house, while relating the story of her grandmother, who worked as a maid. She said her grandmother always urged her to befriend white people. Oprah Winfrey said that her grandmother's wish was for her to get "some good white folks" to work for. "I regret that she didn't live past 1963 and see that I did get some really good white folks," the talk show queen said, "working for me."

• Wellesley College in May, 1997

On May 30, 1997, Oprah Winfrey gave the commence­ment address to Wellesley College, in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She told the graduates that she had learned five important lessons that made her life better.

• Life is a journey. Everyday experiences will teach you who you really are.
• When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. This is especially helpful with men. Don’t force them to beat you over the head with the message.
• Turn your wounds into wisdom. Everyone makes mis­takes. They are just God’s way of telling you you’re moving in the wrong direction.
• Be grateful. Keep a daily journal of the things you are thankful for. It will keep you focused on the abun­dance in your life.
• Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.

• Stanford University's Class of 2008 on June 15, 2008 at Stanford Stadium (scheduled)

Oprah's 10 Commandments for Success

In 1989, in a speech to the American Women’s Economic Development Corporation, Oprah Winfrey listed her personal ten commandments. This list appeared in Oprah Winfrey Speaks: Insight from the World’s Most influential Voice, by Janet Lowe.

1. Don’t live your life to please others.
2. Don’t depend on forces outside of yourself to get ahead.
3. Seek harmony and compassion in your business and personal life.
4. Get rid of the backstabbers—surround yourself only with people who will lift you higher.
5. Be nice.
6. Rid yourself of your addictions—whether they are food, alcohol, drugs or behavior habits.
7. Surround yourself with people who are as smart or smarter than you.
8. If money is your motivation, forget it.
9. Never hand over your power to someone else.
10. Be persistent in pursuing your dreams

See also Oprah's Quotes and Oprah in Quotes (coming soon)