Havel ended on a personal note, saying that hismother always dreamed that he would be able tostudy at Harvard.
"But something else happened, something thatwould never have occurred even to my mother,"Havel said. "I have received a doctoral degree atHarvard without even having to study here."
"I don't know whether my mother is looking downat me from heaven, but if she is I can guess whatshe's probably thinking: she's thinking that I'msticking my nose into matters that only people whohave properly studied political science at Harvardhave the right to stick their noses into," Havelsaid to laughter.
"I hope that you don't think so. Thank you foryour attention," Havel concluded to a standingovation.
Students said they were impressed by Havel'sspeech.
"I liked it a lot," Leah Wimmmer '95 said. Shesaid she especially liked the address' focus onresponsibility.
"It was terrific!" Raphael D. Sperry '95 said."I thought it was the most valuable speech in thewhole commencement exercise.