One is very recent. Penn Commencement Address given Monday, May 16, 2011 by Denzel Washington, Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning actor and director. He makes a good point about falling to see what you will hit rather fall back on
General wisdom is to create a “Fall back option”. I’m sure in your experiences—in school… in applying to college… in picking your major… in deciding what you want to do with life—people have told you to make sure you have something to “fall back on.” But I’ve never understood that concept, having something to fall back on. If I’m going to fall, I don’t want to fall back on anything, except my faith. I want to fall… forward. At least I figure that way I’ll see what I’m about to hit. Fall forward. >>>
Other is a much older speech by JK Rowling at Harvard. She talks about The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination. As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters. >>>>