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I started reading the Harry Potter books as a kid, but somehow got sidetracked and never finished the series. On a whim, I uploaded all of the books to my Kindle and read them last March. All of them. In less than a month. I was glued to my screen, wiping tears, raucously laughing, and finding myself growing ever closer to this world that became real, every time I entered it. One of my favorite things about Kindles is that you can highlight whatever you want and it stores it in the “notes” section of that book for easy viewing later on. Today, I want to share both my favorite highlighted pieces and how I’ve learned and been reminded of countless lessons from this beautiful series.
1. Everything will always be okay. You just have to have hope.
“‘You all righ’?’ he said gruffly. ‘Yeah,’ said Harry. ‘No, yeh’re not,’ said Hagrid. ‘Of course yeh’re not. But yeh will be.’”
This was one of my very favorite quotes from the entire series. I think it’s safe to say that all of us have experienced some real struggles or dark periods in life. In those dark patches, it can be difficult to see a way out, but there’s always a way out and as awful as we may feel, we’ll be okay if we just will ourselves to have hope.
2. Never forget: You always have a choice.
“‘It only put me in Gryffindor,’ said Harry in a defeated voice, ‘because I asked not to go in Slytherin…’ ‘Exactly’ said Dumbledore, beaming once more. ‘Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.’”
No matter how choiceless things may seem, you always have a choice, especially in your life and attitude.
3. We are just friggin’ like our parents.
“‘It was stupid, thinking it was him, I mean, I knew he was dead’ [Harry muttered]. ‘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? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him….You know, Harry, in a way you did see your father last night….You found him inside yourself.’”
Okay, I know this quote means a lot more than that and I truly do love its sentiment about those we’ve lost. On a completely different note, as I get older I notice myself doing and saying EXACT things that my parents used to do or say. It is so odd to see the transformation, but I guess there is a piece of our parents ingrained in all of us.
4. Fake it ’til you make it.
”It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew – and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents – that there was all the difference in the world.”
If we feel like we’re fighting a losing battle, its easy to throw in the towel before we’ve even reached defeat. But I wholly believe in the power confidence has and if we can convince ourselves that we are worthy and able of success, we’re already halfway there. Most of the time, it’s about projecting confidence rather than actually having it.
5. We are a new person everyday.
“Long ago, when [Harry] had been left alone while the Dursley’s went out to enjoy themselves, the hours of solitude had been a rare treat: Pausing only to sneak something tasty from the fridge, he had rushed upstairs to play on Dudley’s computer, or put on the television and flicked through the channels to his heart’s content. It gave him an odd empty feeling to remember those times; it was like remembering a younger brother whom he had lost.”
I’ve been writing for almost a decade, but when I read things I wrote even five years ago, often they don’t even feel like I could have written them. Not because of their quality, but because of their mindset. I don’t think our sole body’s lifespan is an accurate representation of all the lives we’ve really lived. Perhaps we are growing up and maturing, but my own gradual differences feel so dramatic that my former selves seem more like distant cousins than just younger versions of me. We are a new person each and everyday, and sometimes we need to remember this in order to fully embrace the changes we are able to make in our lives.
6. Don’t let circumstance silence your voice.
”It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
I knew I loved this quote, but I had to take a minute to ponder exactly why, and here’s what I’ve come up with: while it still takes a great amount of courage, it’s easier to stand up to our enemies or acquaintances because of the fact that we don’t care as much about their opinion if they choose to disagree with us. But standing up to people we love and respect? It’s hard because their perspectives are a big part of our world. But if we’re passionate about something or want our voice to be heard, we need to disregard the circumstances and share what’s on our mind, instead of giving in to someone else’s world.
7. You only see what you want to see.
”’-mediocre, arrogant as his father, a determined rule-breaker, delighted to find himself famous, attention-seeking and impertinent -’ [said Severus]. ‘You see what you expect to see, Severus,’ said Dumbledore.”
We only find in life what we’re willing to see, so if we let ourselves view the world and other people through a narrow vantage point, we’re missing out on everything else we could learn or experience.
8. Because I just love this quote.
“‘Tell me one last thing,’ said Harry. ‘Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?’ Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice sounded loud and strong in Harry’s ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring his figure. ‘Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?’”
What’s your favorite quote or lesson from Harry Potter or any book in general?
I’ve never gotten into the Harry Potter series, and haven’t seen the movies either. But this post really makes me want to read them! I love when books have great messages along with a great story to tell. I love the highlighting function on my Kindle too, you know you’re reading a good book when you’re always highlighting parts. Great post Mel!
Thank you Megan! I only just got into it last year, but totally fell in love! It definitely has a great storyline with awesome messages too — I recommend it! Glad you like that Kindle function too, it’s such a great way to save quotes. 🙂
“Always.”
🙂
I love this post. From the very beginning to and end!
Harry Potter is the best! 🙂 Thanks for inspiring me once again, Melyssa!
Yay!! I agree — love HP!
“Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.” Dumbledore, Harry Potter
“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
These two also I would like to add 🙂
YES YES! I love these too!! 🙂
Loved your post 😀 I went through it without breath! Way to go 🙂
WOOO that makes me happy! But JK Rowling gets all the credit — what a series! 🙂
indeed she does! She is such a creative person 😀
I love this post! You’ve covered my favourite quote already in no.2 🙂
YESS I lovee that quote too! So telling for our own lives and choices.
I absolutely love the last quote, but the what you have written for quote #5 is what resonates with me the most… I feel like I have changed so much… in the last five year, in the last two years and even just compared to who I was two months ago. And I am wondering: Will there ever be a point where it stops? Not that I want it to, but I’m wondering if there is such a thing as point where we can’t change anymore, where we have reached our full potential.
I’m a big Harry Potter Fan and I’m glad that you got into the series again! 🙂
I’m glad you liked those quotes — they’re some of my favorites too! And I think you pose a really interesting question. My personal answer would be that if you can reach your full potential, then you’ve reached some sort of state of “nirvana” or another spiritual equivalent.
This is such an interesting answer, Melyssa! I guess for me never changing again is a scary thought – I always want to keep evolving and the thought of there being nothing else for me is a bit unsettling. I think I’m scared of not evolving further, but still not having reached my full potential, if that makes any sense.
Ahhh totally makes sense! I think we’ll keep evolving until we die since there’s so much to learn! Or at least, I hope so! 🙂
That’s an awesome question Melanie! I think we’re always changing, and I think we’ll continue to change until we leave this earth. At least, that’s my hope. I always want to be better, smarter, love more, so I hope I continue until my very last breath! This question may make a great blog post! 🙂
Stephanie @ meetwithasmile.blogspot.com
Thanks for your imput, Stephanie! I feel like you do: I want to keep growing and I want to keep changing, even if it’s just so that life doesn’t just remain the same all the time! 😉 I once read somewhere that learning new things/challenging yourself to grow in your personalities is one of the key factors of happiness. It affects our happiness negatively if our life becomes stagnant! There really would be many issues on this topic that could make great blog posts, but I’m not sure if I’m up for that challenge quite yet… but I will remember it for the future! 🙂
Agreed! 🙂
Just last night while I was reading in bed I had wished for a highlighter but I resorted to tucking the page in since I was too comfy to get up, it is great though that all books can give us meaning while we read and if you go back and read Harry Potter next year I am sure all new things will stand out to you!
So true, Bailie! It’s amazing how not only WE change, but the meaning of the things we take in change as we do, too. Thanks for that reminder and for always leaving comments that make me think. 🙂
Fantastic post. There’s a lot of wonderful advice to be gleaned from the Harry Potter series, and I love what you laid out here. 6 and 8 are particularly dear to me.
Agreed — so much advice in this series. #8 is one of my favorites too and I love #6 particularly because it has to do with Neville. 🙂
I cannot even explain to you how much this post just made my day!
HAHA YAY!! I’m so happy!
I’m obsessed with Harry Potter…and so is my husband and my stepdaughter!!! haha We watch the entire series about every other month! we have issues!! haha What a great post Melyssa!!! I’m not being partial or biased bc I love Harry Potter, but I guess I never thought about lessons learned. I love the part where Voldemort is inside Harry and Harry’s trying to break free and Harry says “You’ll never know love or friendship and I feel sorry for you.” Or something like that! What is life without love or friendship?!?!
HAHA every other month?! That’s amazing! I love the part you mentioned! That is so true 🙂
I am a HUGE Potterhead and have read the entire series about 7 times! I love it! JK Rowling is a brilliant writer and I love how it’s an entire new world. I also like the friendship between the trio. My favourite quote is probably when Dumbledore asks Severus if he’s always loved Lily Evans and he replies, ‘Always’ before conjuring up a Patronus in the form of a doe!
7 TIMES?! I bow in your presence! And I love that quote too! A beautiful moment in the series 🙂
this is so clever!! i love it!! i am a huge harry potter fan haha
Thanks girl! I’m a huge fan too (if that wasn’t obvious haha)
Oh man…there are so many fabulous quotes from the books, it’s hard to pick just one. Great post!
I do think that “Always” will live with me for a long time. I love that when Snape says it and I love his memories sequence. That part in the movie gets me every time. You are making me want to reread the books!
Ahhh i love that quote and part too! Really gives you another look on not taking people at face value!
Oh this is utter and complete genius!! What a brilliant post!
Harry P and inspiring quotes – some of my favourite things!!
The quote that immediately pops into my mind is the one we had at our wedding, from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – it’s when Pelagia’s father is giving her advice on love – he tells her that ‘love is a temporary madness, it burns like volcanoes and then subsides, and when it subsides you have to work out whether your roots have so entwined that it is inconcievable you should ever part, because that’s what love is, it is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promise of eternal passion – that is just being ‘in love’ which any fool can do. Love is when your roots have grown towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom has fallen from your branches, you find that you are one tree and not two.’
Soppy, solemn and quite long it turns out! 🙂
I’ve heard that quote before and I’ve always LOVED it! How beautiful that you had it at your wedding!
I have tons of quotes I could say right now but if I just had to pick one and its one I am considering for a tattoo it would be “it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”. Dumbledore is always so wise. Those books changed the world for forever.
How neat that you might get that as a tattoo! I totally agree — that quote is so special!
ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME FREAK OUT?!?!?!
Hahah. I had to like, walk around the block before I read this because I was too excited. (And okay, I say that in a total figurative sense because in all actuality, I’m still in my pajamas in bed. But I’m just saying. I did an internet walk around the block because I almost couldn’t take it.)
IRIORGHREGHTRHR
RIGJRJG
There. I had to let my fingers tap dance a little bit in excitement for this.
So, what I love about this is that you’ve pulled a lot of the quotes that stood out to me as well! I do not have them on Kindle yet (and your post makes me think: WHYYYYYYY NOT?) and I haven’t even read the series that many times, but most of these quotes stand out clear as day.
What I love about reading this is that although the favorite quotes are the same, some of our interpretations or meanings for them are different. And that’s really cool, too. I loved reading the observations and things you picked up from them.
BUT THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE in reading this post was this: “I’ve been writing for almost a decade, but when I read things I wrote even five years ago, often they don’t even feel I could have written them. Not because of their quality, but because of their mindset. I don’t think our sole body’s lifespan is an accurate representation of all the lives we’ve really lived. Perhaps we are growing up and maturing, but my own gradual differences feel so dramatic that my former selves seem more like distant cousins than just younger versions of me. We are a new person each and everyday, and sometimes we need to remember this in order to fully embrace the changes we are able to make in our lives.”
BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT! 🙂
HAHA you always make me laugh out loud. I just adore you. And I love how people can interpret these quotes in different ways, too, depending on how they apply to their own situations! 🙂 HAHA piece de resistance. You crack me up. I’m glad you liked that part! And I noticed you even put it in your recent post which made me ALL KINDS OF happy! 🙂
Love all of these! I am slightly obsessed with Harry Potter and these are fantastic 🙂 There are so many lessons to be learned from that series which is one of the many reasons why I love it so much 🙂
Thank you Jenn! And I totally agree! Definitely not just a “kids” book — so much is applicable to anyone!
Great post Melyssa, I love the first one. Another of my favourite HP quotes is “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Dumbledore
Thank you Rebecca! And I love that one too! I almostALMOST included it. It’s so very true and applicable for our own lives.
All great lessons!! I tried getting into the books and never could but wound up watching (and loving) the past few movies…looks like I may have to give them another try!
DO IT! I bet you’ll love them 🙂
This is fantastic. I absolutely love this post. There are a ton of great quotes from the HP books and I think you’ve picked quite a few stellar examples! Love, love, love it!
Thanks Shannon! 🙂
Love love love this! My favorite HP quote is from Dumbledore: “Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light.”
YES! I almoooost included that one and I love it too 🙂
I am ALL over this post !!!!!!!!!
The #1 lesson I learned from Harry Potter: Love is the most powerful thing there is.
But seriously the best quote? I know EVERYONE says “After all this time?” “Always.” is the best HP quote, which as a general rule of the fandom is pretty much is #1. (It’s also how I test people when they tell me they’re HP fans lol). Which I’m also getting tattooed on my wrist so that has to mean I love it haha.
But the all-time #1 quote to ME (which I was VERY upset wasn’t in the movie):
“How many people have you watched die?”
“Lately only those I could not save.”
That quotes sums up my entire mission for my life, and I think it’s brilliant. There is so much behind that one line. It’s a constant reminder that I must help all I can, do as much as possible. Nobody is exempt and I will always remember and always carry with me those I could not save. But in carrying them with me, I will also work harder to save as many as I can.
🙂
Wow. I love this. Love this love this LOVE THIS. What an amazing quote. Gosh I love HP.
I know! JK Rowling is Queen. Her words elicit such strong feelings. True writer.
DAMN GIRL! I don’t remember that quote — who is speaking? But WOW that is BEAUTIFUL. I was actually tearing up while reading it and your explanation is GOLD. Absolutely love it! Thanks for sharing and don’t be surprised if I print that out and hang it in my room someday haha.
It’s in The Prince’s Tale in The Deathly Hallows when Harry is looking at Snape’s memories. Dumbledore had just told Snape that Harry had been kept alive to die at the precise moment.
So Snape goes, “You have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment?”
And then Dumbledore, “Don’t be so shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?” And then the genius that is Snape replies, “Lately only those whom I could not save.”
Such a genius moment. So sad it wasn’t in the movie, but that’s okay. It truly is such a beautiful line, and I’m glad it’s touched you the way it touched me! Most people tend to skim over it, focusing on Snape’s love for Lily, but I think Snape transformation was far more interesting than his broken heart. There’s something so inspiring about the idea that good can always be renewed in anyone 🙂
I LOOOVE THIS SOOO MUCH!!!
Thank you Cara!!
I read it when I was 7/8 years old so I kind of grew up with it 😀 One of my favorite quotes:
“Wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure.”
It’s written on Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem.
After reading this post and several comments, I feel like one single thing that J.K. Rowling emphasized on HP is: we get to choose what we want to do in life, and that defines who we really are…
Zia from Bits of Germany
So true! I love your little synopsis of the books — I’d never really thought of that before, but choice totally IS a humongo theme in Harry Potter and I really love that, too!
“The world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters. 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.”
And now I want to go read the books all over again…
AHH I almost included that quote too! Such a beautiful way to describe the human condition and how we choose what we are. LOVE.IT. I want to read them again now too AHH.
I restarted with “Prisoner of Azkaban.” That’s still my favorite for some reason.
it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.
Yessss I love this one too! 🙂
I love HP!!
ME TOOOOO!
I couldn’t even begin to say how much I love this. Some of my favorite moments made it up there onto your list and it makes me feel all kinds of nostalgia and fuzzy-inside. Perfect post. One of my favorite quotes, that is a little dark I suppose, is when Dumbledore says “Time is making fools of us again, Harry.” I have those words tattooed on my skin, to never forget that time is precious.
xx
mysmallrayofsunshine.blogspot.com
Thank you so much Sarah! Harry Potter is just one stellar series — so easy to pull inspiration from! And I love that quote you chose! Such a poetic way to express the concept of passing time.
oh. my. goodness. i love this. i actually never read the harry potter books as a kid and my best friend told me i HAVE to read them (i’ve already seen all the movies.) i’m currently on book 5 and i’m hooked. i sit down to read every chance i get 🙂 LOVE that 1st quote from hagrid. i cried when i read it in the book…because it’s so true!
YAY you sound like I was last year! I’m so excited for you — you’re almost done (sort of)! And I think I cried when I read that quote too! hahah. I also love that it comes from Hagrid because it just seems so informal and relatable and like YEAH HAGRID THAT’S SO TRUE. Anyways, enjoy the rest! 🙂
Love this!
Thanks Sara!
I don’t know if someone already said this quote, but this is the most powerful one out of the whole series to me:
“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. Nothing. That they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic, is a truth he has never grasped.”
I’ve re-read Deathly Hallows numerous times just to re-live this quote. So true.
Ahhh this is beautiful. I just got chills!
Ah, I love this! I grew up with the Harry Potter series and it is so near to my heart. I’m glad you decided to pick it up again. I might do the same.
Thanks Adia! And DO IT! 🙂
i love that you’re learning these or being reminded through harry potter. i definitely want to finish one of these days. i stopped after book 2.
DO IT! I quit a couple times, but last year something just clicked and I LOVED them all!
Oh my goodness. I have serious goosebumps right now. Harry Potter is without a doubt my favorite series of books ever. As in seriously, I’m still waiting for my owl to arrive with my invitation to Hogwarts. My favorite quote is the ‘we all have a choice’ one. It gets me every time 🙂 xxx
I agree! SUCH a phenomenal series! And that’s one of my very favorite quotes too!
This is the best! After months of Warren’s prodding and @chimerikal:disqus’s enthusiastic endorsement of Harry Potter, I have finally succumbed and started reading. And, yes, it is as good as everyone says 🙂 Can’t wait to read more so I can truly take in the majesty of this post 🙂
YAY I would love to know what you think!
Great post! I featured it on my blog as the blog love post of the month – http://www.productdoll.com/2013/10/blog-love-life-lessons-learned-from.html
x
Bobbi
http://www.productdoll.com
Thanks for featuring it Bobbi! How sweet of you 🙂
Fun Post 🙂 Loved it 😀 It’s amazing how much this series has affected us! BLAH! I love it 🙂
hahaha I know right? I love it too!
So many things learned from Harry Potter! Every time I read them I find a new gem.
Ahhh I need to read them again! You’re making me want to! 🙂
YUSSSSS!!!! I loooooove this post because I’m a Harry Potter fangirl and I don’t care who knows it. Great quotes that make me want to read the books all over again….maybe after this semester.
Gaaahhh all these comments are making me want to read them again too! LEHHH DO IIITTT
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I am such a Harry Potter nerd. I love this post! I think quotes 2, 6 and 8 are pretty classic quotes for the series, but I love the lesser-known ones you pulled out as well. What a nice little journey back into the series. 🙂
Oh my! I am visiting from Treasure Tromp’s weekly favorite’s list and I am so glad that I did. This gave me chills. I love everything and anything about Harry Potter and find it so hard not to get emotional when reading excerpts from my favorite story. Seriously, so well written. And just because of your appreciation for Harry, you have a new reader:)
Cheers and Happy Saturday!
Alyson
Thanks for stopping by, Alyson! I love everything about it, too and got pretty emotional just writing this post 🙂
This is a great post and you have picked some of my favourite quotes from the books. One of my favourites is – “Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live
without love.”
Definitely love that one, Sammy!! So true.
Great post! Really inspiring and I’m waiting for more inspiring posts from you soon!
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Such a unique post idea, I love it!
Eilidh x
http://herprettystateofmind.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks Eilidh! 🙂
I LOVE Harry Potter and this was a unique take on the books Usually HP related posts are all about critiquing the books/films, so this was a pleasant change… plus it gave advice so… 🙂
Plus, my favourite quote is: “You’re just as sane as I am”
Glad you liked it, Lottie! I am kind of a quote fanatic and the books have led me to some serious realizations. 🙂 Love your favorite quote, too!!
I am a HUGE HP fan myself. I have read and reread this series more times than I can count. I have been through three copies of the first book since I got my first copy when I was 8 years old (I turn 22 this year!) One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie actually. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” 🙂 That is one of my life mottos and I love it!
Ahh I love that quote too! HP is just the best, ain’t it? 🙂
It is. 🙂 I have been putting quote after quote of HP on my Facebook and driving my friends mad. 😛
Ok, I love!!! Harry Potter, and I would have to say that one of my my favorite quotes not just of HP, but of all time, is: “If you want to know what a man is like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
OH! That is such a good one, Kennedy! Thank you for sharing that!