“The better people know Bill…the more loudly they tend to sing his praises,” he said.

Summers bid the China scholar well with a Chinese expression of good luck meaning, “I wish you a prosperous wind.”

The Faculty greeted Kirby with a standing ovation.

Kirby thanked Summers for the opportunity to lead the Faculty and expressed his enthusiasm for the years ahead.

He also praised Knowles for leaving him a “rejuvenated” Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

At the end of yesterday’s meeting, Knowles requested a moment to thank the Faculty for its support during his 11 years as dean.

“I am grateful to everyone who sits, and has sat, at the round table, to every member of the Faculty and particularly for the wonderful support and forbearance of the staff in University Hall and across the FAS,” Knowles said. “I have had a marvelously fulfilling decade.”

Knowles ended with a quote from Pope John XXIII, advice which he said has served him well during his tenure as dean: “See everything. Overlook a great deal. Improve a little.”

“Together,” Knowles said, “I hope we have managed to achieve all three.”

Following those words, the Faculty saluted Knowles with his second standing ovation of the afternoon, and the president brought the meeting to a close.

—Staff writer Kate L. Rakoczy can be reached at rakoczy@fas.harvard.edu.