By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many.
J. K. RowlingRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the bravery of an individual, exemplifying that courage can be found in unexpected places.
In this quote, Harry Potter conveys to his son Albus Severus that bravery is not limited to the traditional heroes we admire. By naming Albus after a Slytherin headmaster, he emphasizes that true courage can come from those who might be misunderstood or underestimated, suggesting that every individual has the capacity for greatness regardless of their background.
Themes
CourageBraveryHogwartsSlytherinBelief
In practice
Example use cases
During a graduation speech to inspire students about bravery and legacy.
More from J. K. Rowling
All quotes →Where are you heading, if you’ve got the choice?” James lifted an invisible sword. “‘Gryffindor, where dwell the brave at heart!’ Like my dad.” Snape made a small, disparaging noise. James turned on him. “Got a problem with that?” “No,” said Snape, though his slight sneer said otherwise. “If you’d rather be brawny than brainy —” “Where’re you hoping to go, seeing as you’re neither?” interjected Sirius.
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Depression isn't just being a bit sad. It's feeling nothing. It's not wanting to be alive anymore.
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I tell you, that dragon's the most horrible animal I've ever met, but the way Hagrid goes on about it, you'd think it was a fluffy little bunny rabbit.
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Imagine losing fingernails, Harry! That really puts our sufferings into perspective, doesn't it?
J. K. RowlingRead
The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.
J. K. RowlingRead
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