150 Best Quotes by J.K. Rowling: Wisdom from the Wizarding World and Beyond

Introduction

J.K. Rowling, born Joanne Rowling on July 31, 1965, transformed from a struggling single mother to one of the world's most beloved authors. Her journey from writing in Edinburgh cafés to creating the global phenomenon that is Harry Potter has inspired millions. Beyond crafting a magical universe that has captivated readers across generations, Rowling has given us profound insights into love, courage, friendship, and the human condition.

Her words, whether spoken through her characters or shared in her own voice, continue to resonate with readers worldwide. From Dumbledore's sage wisdom to the Weasley twins' irreverent humor, from Harry's courage to Hermione's brilliance, Rowling's quotes offer guidance, comfort, and inspiration for life's journey.

This collection of 150 of her best quotes showcases not just the magic of her storytelling, but the depth of her understanding of what makes us human. These words remind us that even in our darkest moments, there is always hope, always love, and always the possibility of choosing what is right over what is easy.

Table of Contents

1. Humor and Wit
2. Love and Friendship
3. Courage and Bravery
4. Wisdom and Life Lessons
5. Growth and Resilience
6. Good vs Evil
7. Hope and Inspiration
8. Magic and Wonder

Humor and Wit

J.K. Rowling's genius lies not just in creating epic battles between good and evil, but in her ability to infuse humor into even the darkest moments. Her wit, often channeled through the Weasley twins, Ron, and even Harry himself, provides the perfect balance to the series' heavier themes.

"So top grade's 'O' for 'Outstanding',' she was saying, 'and then there's 'A'-''No, 'E',' George corrected her, ''E' for 'Exceeds Expectations'. And I've always thought Fred and I should've got 'E' in everything, because we exceeded expectations just by turning up for the exams." - J.K. Rowling

"Do you remember me telling you we are practicing non-verbal spells, Potter?""Yes," said Harry stiffly."Yes, sir.""There's no need to call me "sir" Professor."The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying." - J.K. Rowling

"Mr. Moony presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business.Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Moony, and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git.Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor.Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball." - J.K. Rowling

"He can run faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo." - J.K. Rowling

"Death's got an Invisibility Cloak?" Harry interrupted again."So he can sneak up on people," said Ron. "Sometimes he gets bored of running at them, flapping his arms and shrieking..." - J.K. Rowling

"Percy wouldn't notice a joke if it danced naked in front of him wearing one of Dobby's hats." - J.K. Rowling

"You haven't got a letter on yours," George observed. "I suppose she thinks you don't forget your name. But we're not stupid-we know we're called Gred and Forge." - J.K. Rowling

"Don't talk to me.""Why not?""Because I want to fix that in my memory for ever. Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret..." - J.K. Rowling

"Why are they all staring?" demanded Albus as he and Rose craned around to look at the other students."Don't let it worry you," said Ron. "It's me. I'm extremely famous." - J.K. Rowling

"How do you feel, Georgie?" whispered Mrs. Weasley.George's fingers groped for the side of his head."Saintlike," he murmured."What's wrong with him?" croaked Fred, looking terrified. "Is his mind affected?""Saintlike," repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother. "You see...I'm HOLEY, Fred, geddit?" - J.K. Rowling

"Now, you two – this year, you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you've – you've blown up a toilet or –""Blown up a toilet? We've never blown up a toilet.""Great idea though, thanks, Mum." - J.K. Rowling

"Holey? You have the the whole world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?" - J.K. Rowling

"Oh well... I'd just been thinking, if you had died, you'd have been welcome to share my toilet." - J.K. Rowling

"Yeah, Quirrell was a great teacher. There was just that minor drawback of him having Lord Voldemort sticking out of the back of his head!" - J.K. Rowling

"Why were you lurking under our window?""Yes - yes, good point, Petunia! What were you doing under our windows, boy?""Listening to the news," said Harry in a resigned voice.His aunt and uncle exchanged looks of outrage."Listening to the news! Again?""Well, it changes every day, you see," said Harry." - J.K. Rowling

"Of all the trees we could've hit, we had to get one that hits back." - J.K. Rowling

"I hope you're pleased with yourselves. We could all have been killed - or worse, expelled. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to bed." - J.K. Rowling

"An Unbreakable Vow?" said Ron, looking stunned. "Nah, he can't have.... Are you sure?""Yes I'm sure," said Harry. "Why, what does it mean?""Well, you can't break an Unbreakable Vow...""I'd worked that much out for myself, funnily enough." - J.K. Rowling

"Why are you worrying about YOU-KNOW-WHO, when you should be worrying about YOU-NO-POO? The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!" - J.K. Rowling

Love and Friendship

At its heart, the Harry Potter series is a story about love - the love that saved Harry as a baby, the love between friends, and the love that ultimately defeats evil. Rowling's quotes about love and friendship remind us of what truly matters in life.

"Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears."After all this time?""Always," said Snape." - J.K. Rowling

"We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving." - J.K. Rowling

"It's going to be all right, sir," Harry said over and over again, more worried by Dumbledore's silence than he had been by his weakened voice. "We're nearly there ... I can Apparate us both back ... don't worry ...""I am not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. "I am with you." - J.K. Rowling

"He was my mum and dad's best friend. He's a convicted murderer, but he's broken out of wizard prison and he's on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though...keep up with my news...check if I'm happy..." - J.K. Rowling

"Seventeen, eh!" said Hagrid as he accepted a bucket-sized glass of wine from Fred."Six years to the day we met, Harry, d'yeh remember it?""Vaguely," said Harry, grinning up at him. "Didn't you smash down the front door, give Dudley a pig's tail, and tell me I was a wizard?""I forge' the details," Hagrid chortled." - J.K. Rowling

"Sometimes you remind me a lot of James. He called it my 'furry little problem' in company. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit." - J.K. Rowling

"After all this time?""Always..." - J.K. Rowling

"Snape's patronus was a doe,' said Harry, 'the same as my mother's because he loved her for nearly all of his life, from when they were children." - J.K. Rowling

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - J.K. Rowling

"The ones that love us never really leave us." - J.K. Rowling

"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and above all, those who live without love." - J.K. Rowling

"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." - J.K. Rowling

"You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?" - J.K. Rowling

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends." - J.K. Rowling

"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them." - J.K. Rowling

"Books! And cleverness! There are more important things - friendship and bravery." - J.K. Rowling

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling

"Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic." - J.K. Rowling

"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution." - J.K. Rowling

Courage and Bravery

Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. Rowling's characters teach us that bravery comes in many forms, from standing up to friends to facing our deepest fears.

"Is it true that you shouted at Professor Umbridge?""Yes.""You called her a liar?""Yes.""You told her He Who Must Not Be Named is back?""Yes.""Have a biscuit, Potter." - J.K. Rowling

"I DON'T CARE!" Harry yelled at them, snatching up a lunascope and throwing it into the fireplace. "I'VE HAD ENOUGH, I'VE SEEN ENOUGH, I WANT OUT, I WANT IT TO END, I DON'T CARE ANYMORE!""You do care," said Dumbledore. He had not flinched or made a single move to stop Harry demolishing his office. His expression was calm, almost detached. "You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it." - J.K. Rowling

"Albus Severus," Harry said quietly, so that nobody but Ginny could hear, and she was tactful enough to pretend to be waving to Rose, who was now on the train, "you were named for two headmasters of Hogwarts. One of them was a Slytherin and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew." - J.K. Rowling

"Harry, don't go picking a row with Malfoy, don't forget, he's a prefect now, he could make life difficult for you...""Wow, I wonder what it'd be like to have a difficult life?" said Harry sarcastically." - J.K. Rowling

"We did it, we bashed them wee Potter's the one, and Voldy's gone moldy, so now let's have fun!" - J.K. Rowling

"Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right." - J.K. Rowling

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - J.K. Rowling

"You're a wizard, Harry." - J.K. Rowling

"I am what I am, an' I'm not ashamed. 'Never be ashamed,' my ol' dad used ter say, 'there's some who'll hold it against you, but they're not worth botherin' with.'" - J.K. Rowling

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." - J.K. Rowling

"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be." - J.K. Rowling

"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." - J.K. Rowling

"Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more: believing in yourself." - J.K. Rowling

"Every great wizard in history has started out as nothing more than what we are now, students. If they can do it, why not us?" - J.K. Rowling

"Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself." - J.K. Rowling

"You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve." - J.K. Rowling

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." - J.K. Rowling

"The world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters. We've all got both light and dark inside us." - J.K. Rowling

"But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - J.K. Rowling

Wisdom and Life Lessons

Dumbledore's wisdom, Hermione's intelligence, and even the occasional profound observation from unexpected characters provide us with life lessons that extend far beyond the wizarding world.

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live." - J.K. Rowling

"As much money and life as you could want! The two things most human beings would choose above all - the trouble is, humans do have a knack of choosing precisely those things that are worst for them." - J.K. Rowling

"Ginny!" said Mr. Weasley, flabbergasted. "Haven't I taught you anything? What have I always told you? Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain?" - J.K. Rowling

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." - J.K. Rowling

"For instance, this new idea that You-Know-Who can kill with a single glance from his eyes. That's a basilisk, listeners. One simple test: Check whether the thing that's glaring at you has got legs. If it has, it's safe to look into its eyes, although if it really is You-Know-Who, that's still likely to be the last thing you ever do." - J.K. Rowling

"I don't mean to be rude—" he began, in a tone that threatened rudeness in every syllable."Yet, sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often," Dumbledore finished the sentence gravely." - J.K. Rowling

"By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many." - J.K. Rowling

"There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it." - J.K. Rowling

"Abundance is the quality of life you live and quality of life you give to others." - J.K. Rowling

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" - J.K. Rowling

"Understanding is the first step to acceptance, and only with acceptance can there be recovery." - J.K. Rowling

"Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it." - J.K. Rowling

"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike." - J.K. Rowling

"Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels. But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young." - J.K. Rowling

"It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more." - J.K. Rowling

"The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed." - J.K. Rowling

"Curiosity is not a sin.... But we should exercise caution with our curiosity... yes, indeed." - J.K. Rowling

"Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth." - J.K. Rowling

"We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on." - J.K. Rowling

Growth and Resilience

Rowling's own journey from adversity to success mirrors the growth of her characters. These quotes remind us that setbacks are setups for comebacks.

"Harry — I think I've just understood something! I've got to go to the library!"And she sprinted away, up the stairs."What does she understand?" said Harry distractedly, still looking around, trying to tell where the voice had come from."Loads more than I do," said Ron, shaking his head."But why's she got to go to the library?""Because that's what Hermione does," said Ron, shrugging. "When in doubt, go to the library." - J.K. Rowling

"I dreamed I was buying new shoes last night," said Ron. "What d'ya think that's gonna mean?""Probably that you're going to be eaten by a giant marshmallow or something," said Harry." - J.K. Rowling

"Well?" Ron said finally, looking up at Harry. "How was it?"Harry considered it for a moment. "Wet," he said truthfully.Ron made a noise that might have indicated jubilation or disgust, it was hard to tell."Because she was crying," Harry continued heavily."Oh," said Ron, his smile faded slightly. "Are you that bad at kissing?""Dunno," said Harry, who hadn't considered this, and immediately felt rather worried. "Maybe I am." - J.K. Rowling

"So that's little Scorpious. Make sure you beat him in every test, Rosie. Thank god you've inherited your mother's brains." - J.K. Rowling

"Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential." - J.K. Rowling

"It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default." - J.K. Rowling

"The knowledge that you have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive." - J.K. Rowling

"Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition. Your qualifications are not your life." - J.K. Rowling

"We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already." - J.K. Rowling

"Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve." - J.K. Rowling

"What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does." - J.K. Rowling

"Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect." - J.K. Rowling

"You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!" - J.K. Rowling

"I am not worried, Harry...I am with you." - J.K. Rowling

"Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies." - J.K. Rowling

"We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." - J.K. Rowling

"It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends." - J.K. Rowling

"The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure." - J.K. Rowling

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure." - J.K. Rowling

Good vs Evil

The eternal struggle between good and evil is at the heart of Rowling's work, but her treatment of it is nuanced, showing us that the line between them often runs through every human heart.

"Can't stay long, Mother," he said. "I'm up front, the prefects have got two compartments to themselves-""Oh, are you a prefect, Percy?" said one of the twins, with an air of great surprise. "You should have said something, we had no idea.""Hang on, I think I remember him saying something about it," said the other twin. "Once-""Or twice-""A minute-""All summer-""Oh, shut up," said Percy the Prefect." - J.K. Rowling

"How're we getting to King's Cross tomorrow, Dad?" asked Fred as they dug into a sumptuous pudding."The Ministry's providing a couple of cars," said Mr. Weasley.Everyone looked up at him."Why?" said Percy curiously."It's because of you, Perce," said George seriously. "And there'll be little flags on the hoods, with HB on them-""-for Humongous Bighead," said Fred." - J.K. Rowling

"Well, I certainly don't," said Percy sanctimoniously. "I shudder to think what the state of my in-tray would be if I was away from work for five days." "Yeah, someone might slip dragon dung in it again, eh, Perce?" said Fred. "That was a sample of fertilizer from Norway!" said Percy, going very red in the face. "It was nothing personal!" "It was," Fred whispered to Harry as they got up from the table. "We sent it." - J.K. Rowling

"There is no good or evil: only power and those too weak to seek it." - J.K. Rowling

"The world isn't split into good people and Death Eaters." - J.K. Rowling

"I think the answer is: a circle that has no beginning." - J.K. Rowling

"Perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it." - J.K. Rowling

"Power was my weakness and my temptation." - J.K. Rowling

"It is important to fight and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay though never quite eradicated." - J.K. Rowling

"Killing is not so easy as the innocent believe." - J.K. Rowling

"The dedication of this book is split seven ways." - J.K. Rowling

"Evil is a strong word. Tom Riddle was evil. Voldemort was evil. But you - you're not evil. You're a boy. A scared boy." - J.K. Rowling

"Those who choose not to empathize enable real monsters." - J.K. Rowling

"Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great." - J.K. Rowling

"His knowledge remained woefully incomplete, Harry! That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to comprehend." - J.K. Rowling

"Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do!" - J.K. Rowling

"He chose the boy he thought most likely to be a danger to him...and notice this, Harry. He chose, not the pureblood...but the half-blood, like himself." - J.K. Rowling

"That which Voldemort does not value, he takes no trouble to comprehend. Of house-elves and children's tales, of love, loyalty, and innocence, Voldemort knows and understands nothing." - J.K. Rowling

"You will find that I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me." - J.K. Rowling

Hope and Inspiration

Even in the darkest moments of her stories, Rowling never lets hope die. These quotes remind us that there is always light to be found, if we remember to look for it.

"Mistletoe," said Luna dreamily, pointing at a large clump of white berries placed almost over Harry's head. He jumped out from under it. "Good thinking," said Luna seriously. "It's often infested with nargles." - J.K. Rowling

"Anyone can speak Troll. All you have to do is point and grunt." - J.K. Rowling

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - J.K. Rowling

"Hope springs forever." - J.K. Rowling

"Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving." - J.K. Rowling

"Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it." - J.K. Rowling

"You're just as sane as I am." - J.K. Rowling

"Dawn seemed to follow midnight with indecent haste." - J.K. Rowling

"And now, Harry, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." - J.K. Rowling

"To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure." - J.K. Rowling

"Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." - J.K. Rowling

"What you fear most of all is —fear. Very wise..." - J.K. Rowling

"The ones who love us never really leave us, you can always find them in here." - J.K. Rowling

"Until the very end." - J.K. Rowling

"All was well." - J.K. Rowling

"Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." - J.K. Rowling

"No story lives unless someone wants to listen." - J.K. Rowling

"The stories we love best do live in us forever." - J.K. Rowling

"Those who love us never really leave us. There are things that death cannot touch." - J.K. Rowling

Magic and Wonder

The magic in Rowling's world isn't just about spells and potions - it's about the wonder of discovery, the power of imagination, and the extraordinary that exists within the ordinary.

"I don't believe it! I don't believe it! Oh, Ron, how wonderful! A prefect! That's everyone in the family!" "What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?" - J.K. Rowling

"Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have." - J.K. Rowling

"Mischief managed." - J.K. Rowling

"I don't go looking for trouble. Trouble usually finds me." - J.K. Rowling

"Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end." - J.K. Rowling

"Magic always leaves traces, sometimes very distinctive traces." - J.K. Rowling

"Ah, music...a magic beyond all we do here!" - J.K. Rowling

"Where is Wood?" said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn't there. "Still in the showers," said Fred. "We think he's trying to drown himself." - J.K. Rowling

"You'd think people had better things to gossip about," said Ginny as she sat on the common room floor, leaning against Harry's legs and reading the Daily Prophet. "Three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a Hippogriff tattooed across your chest." - J.K. Rowling

"I'll join you when hell freezes over," said Neville. "Dumbledore's Army!" he shouted, and there was an answering cheer from the crowd, whom Voldemort's Silencing Charms seemed unable to hold." - J.K. Rowling

"Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress?" - J.K. Rowling

"Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world." - J.K. Rowling

"The mind is a complex and many-layered thing." - J.K. Rowling

"Scars can come in handy. I have one myself above my left knee that is a perfect map of the London Underground." - J.K. Rowling

"You can exist without your soul, you know, as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory, no...anything." - J.K. Rowling

"Dobby is free." - J.K. Rowling

"Such a beautiful place, to be with friends. Dobby is happy to be with his friend." - J.K. Rowling

"Not my daughter, you bitch!" - J.K. Rowling

"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." - J.K. Rowling

"Do not pity the dead, Harry, pity the living, and above all those who live without love." - J.K. Rowling

Conclusion

J.K. Rowling's words have transcended the pages of her books to become guiding lights for millions around the world. Through humor and heartbreak, triumph and tragedy, her quotes remind us of fundamental truths about the human experience. They teach us that love is the most powerful magic, that our choices define us more than our abilities, and that even in the darkest times, hope can be found if we remember to turn on the light.

Her legacy isn't just in the magical world she created, but in the real-world wisdom she imparted through her characters. From teaching us to question authority to reminding us of the importance of friendship, from showing us that it's our choices that matter to demonstrating that love conquers even death, Rowling's quotes continue to inspire new generations of readers.

As we face our own challenges, we can draw strength from Harry's courage, learn from Hermione's wisdom, laugh with Ron's humor, and find comfort in Dumbledore's guidance. The magic of J.K. Rowling's words lies not in spells or potions, but in their ability to touch our hearts, challenge our minds, and remind us of our own capacity for love, bravery, and resilience.

In a world that often seems divided, her words unite us. In times of darkness, they bring light. And in moments of despair, they offer hope. That is the true magic of J.K. Rowling - not just that she created a world of witches and wizards, but that she reminded us of the magic that exists within each of us.

"The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

More J.K Rowling Quotes

Check out our quote collections

• Success & Achievement
• Entrepreneurship & Business
• Persistence & Resilience
• Personal Growth & Self-Improvement
• Mindset & Mental Strength
• Confidence & Self-Belief
• Life Wisdom & Purpose
• Happiness & Joy
• Change & Transformation
• Leadership & Influence
• Relationships & Communication
• Daily Inspiration
• Overcoming Fear
• Creativity & Innovation
• Health & Wellness
• Achievement & Victory
• Goal Setting & Dreams
• Wealth & Prosperity
• Career & Professional Success
• Excellence & Quality
• Performance & Results
• Competition & Winning
• Recognition & Fame
• Power & Influence
• Strategy & Planning