Alan Rickman's recent death has left myself and many others thinking about the Harry Potter series and how much it has affected our lives. Whether it be through the books or movies, we have found comfort through J.K. Rowling's thrilling tale. She created the most amazing and intricate fictional story, somehow managing to make us feel as if we were right along side Harry through all of his triumphs and lessons learned. People will be quoting this book for years to come because, although Harry Potter is classified as a children's series, Rowling touched children of all ages through her words. We all could use a little bit of her kindness and wit in our life, so here are Harry Potter quotes to live your life by:
1. "It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
Some people always seem to be wishing for a future where they settle down with their significant other, have a good job, and a couple dogs. This does seem like a very relaxed life when you compare it to the life we college students currently lead. College is one of the best experiences and we should not be dwelling on our future dream life. Instead, lets live the awesome life we have, simply because we can.
2. "Books! And cleverness! There are more important things -- friendship and bravery..."
Even at the mere age of eleven, Hermione knew that being smart was not everything. I believe this is something we must all remember. Yes, college is about going to school and gaining knowledge, but it's also about finding yourself and your best friends with whom you will share your life with. Sometimes there are more important things than your GPA.
3. "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
Optimism. You can always make the best out of every bad situation you are in. You can only do this if you are aware that you are the one in control of your happiness. Once we know how to make ourselves happy, then we will know how to turn on the light when we are enduring a dark time.
4. "To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure."
I absolutely live by this quote and it is one of the reasons why I am not afraid of dying. Everyone ponders about what happens after we die, and most people have their own theory. The only ones that really know what happens are those who are dead. Now, I'm not saying I want to die any time soon, but I know there is something out there, and I will rejoice when I discover what that new adventure is.
5. "What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does."
Obviously when Hagrid says this he's talking about the war they're about to be in, but we can still relate this to our lives. We shouldn't be worrying about the future and the things that it may, or may not, bring. That would just waste the time we have right now. Whatever is coming will come and no amount of worrying or preparing can change that. We can only meet the future when it gets here.
6. "It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."
No matter where you grow up, no matter what your family is like, and no matter who you used to be, you can always be something or someone different. Whatever you want to make of your life is up to you. People usually use this quote as if someone has had a bad childhood, but it doesn't matter if you were born into a wealthy family with great parents. It only matters what you continue to do with your life.
7. "We've all got both light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we choose to act on, that's who we really are."
All of us have the potential to be a good or bad person, but we have to remember that it is our choice which person we want to be. We are not born with only light inside of us or only dark inside of us, we are born with both. Acting on the part that we really are is what defines us.
8. "People find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right."
When I am wrong, I really try to accept it and admit that I was wrong. Some people have trouble doing this, especially if they are wrong about something very important (like Percy was when Voldemort returned). It is no fun being wrong, but we should always admit when we are, even if it hurts.
9. "We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."
When facing a problem, we may think that the easy choice is the right one, simply because it is easy. This might be true sometimes, but it is probably the wrong choice. It is easy to just google the answers to your homework and to half-ass it (I'm guilty). It will pay off in the long run to actually do your homework and study for your tests the right way, rather than the easy way.
10. "Words, in my humble opinion, are the most inexhaustible source of magic."
Words have the power to make or break a person. We can do many things with our words that we cannot do with our actions. For those of us that cannot do magic, but really wish we could, words can be our source of magic.
11. "Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love."
This is arguably the best quote from the series. It is exactly what Dumbledore wanted Harry to realize when he told him that love was his greatest weapon. Do not pity the dead because there is nothing wrong with dying, there is no way to defeat death (Voldemort proved this). We should pity those without love, because love is one of the greatest things that we as humans can do. Love overcomes everything.
I have, and always will, say that Harry Potter is the best series to ever be written. So thank you, J.K. Rowling, for the magic you have brought into my wanna-be witch life. I will be forever grateful, until the very end.
