17 of the best Harry Potter quotes (to fit your every mood)

Sometimes we go through life and can’t think of the right thing to say. Or there are moments when you’re down and need kind words to pick you up. That’s where this article comes in.

Some people look at movies as fiction and a way to escape reality for a few hours. However, they can be more than that. The most farfetched films can have deep and meaningful moments. The Harry Potter movies are great for that. You can’t watch a person as wise as Albus Dumbledore or as smart as Severus Snape for hours and not come away having learned something.

Talking about Harry Potter these days is tricky, because author J.K. Rowling has publicly been making incredibly problematic comments. But even people who say hurtful things can leave a positive mark on the world. Here are some great quotes from different Harry Potter movies, what makes them great, and when to use them. 

17 ."It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ― Albus Dumbledore

We all have things that we can do better than others. In sports, some people are faster and stronger than their opponents or teammates. Other professions may require cunning to get ahead. Nevertheless, your skills aren't your only legacy. It’s how you use what you have. Even the best will be judged by their character at some point.

16. "There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making.” -Severus Snape

No matter what, pay attention to the minor details. Those are the things that can make or break anything. For example, adding a small amount of salt can overwhelm a meal. This is also a reminder to take your job seriously and not cut corners.

15. "The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution." — Albus Dumbledore

AND

14. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." ― Albus Dumbledore

You never want to hurt the people you love. However, there are times when they’re hurting you or themselves. When that happens, you’ll have to be honest with them.

It takes courage to tell an uncomfortable truth to someone you care about, but it's necessary. Remember, it also takes tact too. You can’t always be direct when it comes to people’s feelings.

13. "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." — Hermione Granger

This is a quote about getting over the things that scare us. Fears can be conquered, but not immediately. One of the first steps is saying what you’re scared of. That will help to take the power away from what terrifies you.

12. "When in doubt, go to the library." — Ron Weasley

Research is a good thing. As a writer, I spend hours looking things up. It’s frustrating at times, but it always works out in the end. Especially when something new is learned. And if you can’t make it to the library, the internet is at our fingertips.

11. "Fame is a fickle friend, Harry. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that." — Gilderoy Lockhart

Don't let celebrity go to your head. Popularity doesn’t last forever. Eventually, someone will come along and they’ll be more famous. That means the people you saw on the way up, you’ll see on the way down. How you treated them before will determine how they receive you now.

10. "Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." ― Albus Dumbledore

When things are bleak, it’s difficult to look on the bright side, but it’s there. When you realize it, accept it. It won't be easy, but it'll be worth it.

9. "You think the dead we loved truly ever leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly in times of great trouble?" — Albus Dumbledore

Losing someone you love is never easy. The pain doesn’t get easier when you realize you’ll never see them again. Thankfully, there’s good news. They live on in our hearts. Yes, that is a cheesy and cliché thing to say, but it’s true. When things are at their worst, we can look at the lessons they left us and smile. They’re still around helping us get by.

8. "If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." — Sirius Black

Treat everyone fairly. It’s that simple. People from all walks of life deserve respect. When you see a person looking down on someone because of their status in life, that should tell you everything about them you need to know.

7. "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." — Albus Dumbledore

“There’s no ‘I’ in team” is the phrase that comes to mind. Everyone has a part to play, but no one can do it alone. Look at cooks in a restaurant. When everyone does their part, it makes the food magical.

6. "You can laugh, but people used to believe there were no such things as the Blibbering Humdinger or the Crumple-Horned Snorkack!" ― Luna Lovegood

Just because someone doesn’t believe in you doesn’t mean you can't accomplish your goals. The world is full of inventions that were once thought to be impossible. That’s how humans have traveled to space, created the internet, and discovered that dinosaurs exist. Stay true to yourself without hurting people.

5. "We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are." ― Sirius Black

Everyone is capable of doing evil things, but there’s good inside of us too. Every day we have to decide who we want to be. Do we cut someone off or yell when we don’t need to? Or do we let the person go ahead of us and use a kinder tone? Those decisions make us into the person we become.

4. "Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure." — Luna Lovegood

A sharp wit can be just as, if not more powerful than a punch. A well-placed joke can calm someone’s temper. A quick response can make an enemy into a friend or vice-versa. The best part is that everyone uses wit differently. That's why it's a beautiful thing.

3. "It is the quality of one’s convictions that determines success, not the number of followers." —Remus Lupin

If you truly believe in something, stay true to it. As long as it isn’t hurting someone, as Captain America said, “Even if the whole world is telling you to move, it is your duty to plant yourself like a tree, look them in the eye, and say, 'No, you move.’”

Also, it’s doubtful that Remus was thinking about social media when he said this, but it still applies.

2. "We’re all human, aren’t we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving." — Kingsley Shacklebolt

No one is more important than the next person. A surgeon needs the anesthesiologist, the nurses, and the people who clean the room. Without each of them, the patient’s life is in danger. And the patient on the table could save the world. We're all connected.

1. "Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it." ― Albus Dumbledore

Words mean something. They can motivate a person to do great or evil things. They can create peace or start a war. This is why we should watch what we say. Like spells, words have powers.

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