The 10 Greatest Harry Potter Quotes to Live your Life By

The pages of each Harry Potter book are laced with life lessons that extend far beyond the characters in the wizarding world. We leave these books with a greater understanding of friendship, bravery and love, making the act of reading them just that much more precious.

Plus there are so many things to do and see based around these much-loved books, from incredible Harry Potter London locations to visit, to going on the Hogwarts Express across Scotland.

We’re clearly feeling a little sentimental, so we’ll just get on with it. Here are 10 of the greatest Harry Potter quotes that help to guide us toward a better life.

1. ‘Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.’

If we can’t even say the name of the thing we fear, how are we ever going to begin conquering it? Fear perpetuates fear, and the sooner we can get to facing ours, the sooner they’ll lose significance.

2. ‘Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery.’

If we don’t understand our pain and its source, it’ll be much more difficult to move forward. Understanding why something happened also makes it easier to avoid similar circumstances in the future.

3. ‘It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.’

Sayings like this often incite an eye roll these days, but we’re still steadfast in our believing that it’s true. We really can be whatever we want with a little love, encouragement and hard work.

4. ‘It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live…’

So often do we wile away our days dreaming of what could be and not appreciating what is. Don’t get us wrong, you should always dream big – but never forget to enjoy the ride. We may dream of living in Hogwarts Castle, but that doesn’t mean we should forget why our muggle homes are so great.

5. ‘Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.’

We need this Harry Potter quote now more than ever, when the world seems an infinitely huge place and the people in it light-years away. But at the end of the day, if we all have similar goals and acceptance in our hearts, very little truly separates us.

6. ‘It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.’

It’s not our ability to speak German, French and Japanese or sword fight with the best of them, but our choice to be kind, to care about those around us and to love, that make us good.

7. ‘What’s coming will come, and we’ll meet it when it does.’

It can be all too easy to tumble down the rabbit hole of worrying over what’s coming next, but here, Hagrid couldn’t be more right. Life will find its way to us, and when it does, we’re better off meeting it face-to-face.

8. ‘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.’

Nobody’s perfect. Harry might be our big hero, but listed among his traits is the ability to speak Parseltongue – the official language of the bad guys. Harry is sometimes steeped in evil, but he reaches beyond it for the good inside him, and it’s this choice that defines his character.

9. ‘We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.’

There was only one way to defeat Voldemort, the most evil wizard of all time. It was crucial that everyone came together and lo and behold, they did. The only way us muggles can follow suit is by sticking together ourselves.

10. ‘Happiness can be found even the in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light.’

This beauty speaks for itself. Thanks, Dumbledore.

Excuse us while we sniffle over our nostalgia.

What is your favourite Harry Potter quote?