J. K. Rowling
born 1965
14 genuine quotes, each found in the text, and 2 wrongly credited to Rowling.
British novelist, author of the seven Harry Potter novels (1997–2007) about a boy wizard at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and of crime novels under the pen name Robert Galbraith. Her works are in copyright, so her lines rest on checked citations. Many of the lines most often credited to her are spoken by her characters (Dumbledore, Sirius Black, Hermione, Luna Lovegood…), and quote sites usually drop the speaker.
EndpaperAn AI‑generated pattern made for this page, in the manner of the Glasgow Style (1890–1914).
Genuine Rowling quotes
- If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Chapter 27 (“Padfoot Returns”), said by Sirius Black.
- Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – oh Harry – be careful!
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), Chapter 16 (Through the Trapdoor), said by Hermione Granger.
- It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), Chapter 17 (“The Man with Two Faces”), p. 221 (Bloomsbury, 2004 edition), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- To the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), Chapter 17 (“The Man with Two Faces”), p. 215 (Bloomsbury, 2004 edition), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007), Chapter 35 (“King’s Cross”), p. 578 (Bloomsbury, 2007), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), Chapter 17 (The Man with Two Faces), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007), Chapter 35 (“King’s Cross”), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.
J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter novels (book and chapter not confirmed); sentence as republished by the official Harry Potter website in 16 pearls of wisdom from Professor Dumbledore (22 September 2015), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997), Chapter 12 (“The Mirror of Erised”), p. 157 (Bloomsbury, 2004 edition), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- 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 Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination, Harvard University commencement address, 5 June 2008; text published by the Harvard Gazette, Harvard commencement address, 5 June 2008, paragraph beginning You might never fail on the scale I did.
Show all 14 genuine Rowling quotesShow fewer
- It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), Chapter 18 (“Dobby’s Reward”), p. 245 (Bloomsbury, 2004 edition), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Chapter 36 (“The Parting of the Ways”), said by Albus Dumbledore.
- And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.
J. K. Rowling, The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination, Harvard University commencement address, 5 June 2008; text published by the Harvard Gazette, Harvard commencement address, 5 June 2008, section on the benefits of failure.
- We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.
J. K. Rowling, The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination, Harvard University commencement address, 5 June 2008; text published by the Harvard Gazette, Harvard commencement address, 5 June 2008, conclusion of the section on imagination.
Quotes wrongly credited to Rowling
- Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.
Misattributed. Steve Kloves wrote it, not Rowling.
- Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.
Not found. It is not in Rowling’s works, and who first wrote it is not known.
The works we hold
Quotes are looked up word for word in these texts. The number is how many genuine quotes here come from each.
| Work | Year | Genuine quotes |
|---|---|---|
| Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone | 1997 | 5 |
| Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets | 1998 | 1 |
| Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire | 2000 | 2 |
| Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows | 2007 | 2 |