By all means continue destroying my possessions. I daresay I have too many.
J. K. RowlingRead
Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Ignoring others can cause more harm than actively disliking them.
This quote by J.K. Rowling emphasizes the significant impact that apathy and neglect can have on individuals and relationships. It suggests that indifference towards others can lead to emotional pain and distress, potentially creating deeper wounds than those inflicted by outright hostility or dislike, highlighting the importance of care and attention in our interactions with others.
Themes
IndifferenceNeglectRelationshipsEmpathyCare
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the importance of supporting friends in need, one might use this quote to illustrate the consequences of neglect.
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?
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The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed.
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