Books

Harry Potter Quotes For The Next 4 Years

by E. Ce Miller

Feb. 3, 2017

If you’ve so much as poked your head outside your front door at any point since Inauguration Day on January 20, then you know Donald Trump has been effectively carpet bombing the American people with executive orders (and Tweets) — and while many are bad, some are, shall we say, worse than others. In addition to being amoral, destructive, and often terrifying, this onslaught of executive orders can also start to feel a bit disheartening, even to the most optimistic of politically savvy gals — and where do savvy gals turn when the going gets a little tougher than usual? Harry Potter, of course; and specifically, these Harry Potter quotes that will help get you through a Trump presidency (or, you know, at least through the next ten minutes.)

While true Potterheads have always worshiped at the altar (aka: stack of books) of the wizarding world, there is something especially fitting about the messages behind J.K. Rowling’s bestselling series now. Whether you need a little reminder that standing together is always better than falling divided, or you just want to escape into a world where evil is vanquished in little more than the time it takes to read seven novels, or you simply need a healthy dose of magic (or magical quotes) to help get you though, these Harry Potter quotes will inspire you to keep pushing forward.

Find all kinds of injustice-fighting inspiration with these 19 Harry Potter quotes that will help get you through a Trump presidency.

Harry Potter Quotes For The Next 4 Years

1“Call him Voldemort, Harry. Always use the proper name for things. Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself.”

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

3“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

4“Time is short, and unless the few of us who know the truth stand united, there is no hope for any of us.”

5“The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed…”

6“Don’t you see? Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do! Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!”

7“You know, the Stone was really not such a wonderful thing. 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.”

8“The truth.” Dumbledore sighed. “It is a beautiful and terrible thing, and should therefore be treated with great caution.”

9“You might belong in Gryffindor, Where dwell the brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry Set Gryffindors apart…”

10"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

11“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”

12“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it.”

13“Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”

14“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.’ An’ he was right.”

15There are all kinds of courage,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”

16“I think the word ‘fiasco’ would be a good one here,” said Dumbledore, nodding.

17“No good sittin’ worryin’ abou’ it,” he said. “What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll meet it when it does.”

18“Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.”

19It was important, Dumbledore had said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated…