Sometimes people forget that the "Harry Potter" books teach valuable life lessons and often inspire readers to be better individuals.
In honor of the new year, I compiled a list of the most inspirational quotes from the "Harry Potter" books. (Most of these said by Dumbledore because J.K. Rowling usually saved her best and wisest quotes for him.)
"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live"
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Sorcerer's Stone")
One of the wise old man's most famous quotes. It's good to have dreams, but you must not let life pass by you.
"If you want to know what a man's like, take a look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."
— Sirius Black ("The Goblet of Fire")
Treat everyone with kindness and respect even if you hold power over them.
"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Goblet of Fire")
"Wit beyond measure is a man's greatest treasure."
— Rowena Ravenclaw
Intelligence and wittiness are good qualities to have.
"No good sittin’ worryin’ abou’ it. What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll meet it when it does."
— Rubeus Hagrid ("The Goblet of Fire")
Though he only pronounces half of each word, Hagrid portrays an important message: don't worry about the future and what might come your way, just focus on what is happening now.
"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution."
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Sorcerer's Stone")
"Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery."
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Goblet of Fire")
"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike."
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Order of the Phoenix")
"Constant vigilance."
— Alaster "Mad-Eye" Moody ("The Order of the Phoenix")
With the world we are living in today, it doesn't hurt to always be on the lookout. This could also be taken metaphorically (keep an eye out for new opportunities, etc).
"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Goblet of Fire")
Just because someone is born into a particular family or way of life does not mean it defines them, unless they let it define them.
"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it."
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Goblet of Fire")
"We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, but battle on."
— Albus Dumbledore "(Half-Blood Prince")
Don't get lost in your sorrow because life goes on.
"We're all human aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving."
— Kingsley Shacklebolt ("The Deathly Hallows")
"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.”
— Albus Dumbledore ("The Order of the Phoenix")
These quotes are uplifting and inspirational. They remind us that most people around the world face the same day to day problems as us and that life goes on no matter what.
(I'd also like to add that Snape's whole storyline taught me more about judging people and how it's never right to assume than any scholarly book I've read.)
