Harry Potter is definitely one of the most popular fandoms out there. The book series, and then the movies, appealed to a wide audience and have firmly been secured in pop culture for now and for decades to come. Since so many fans love Harry Potter, it’s definitely the type of thing where people are quoting iconic moments and lines from the books as well as the movies. But, in some cases, these quotes ended up being repeated incorrectly or words get added or left out of these iconic quotes.
We’ve collected a list of nine common Harry Potter quotes that nearly everyone gets wrong.
Dumbledore On Bravery
Dumbledore is a great source of amazing quotes that are sometimes wise and sometimes funny, and he appears on this list many times because of his wisdom and insights. This line is spoken in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and it’s one that many people remember. However, this is an easy line to get wrong. Instead of saying “but just as much to stand up to our friends” many people say something like “but even more to stand up to our friends.” While basically the same meaning, this is an easy quote to mess up by changing up a few of the words.
“IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF BRAVERY TO STAND UP TO OUR ENEMIES, BUT JUST AS MUCH TO STAND UP TO OUR FRIENDS.”
Dumbledore On Truth
When quoting iconic lines from the series, it can be easy to forget the exact wording. Often, our brains just go with what we remember or what sounds right. In this case, many people forget to add the “it is” after the word truth and also forget the last phrase of this quote. Remembering to add “and should therefore be treated with caution” changes the meaning somewhat of this Dumbledore quote and is an important addition.
“THE TRUTH. IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE THING, AND SHOULD THEREFORE BE TREATED WITH CAUTION.”
Our Choices Show Who We Are
This legendary quote from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is probably one of the most well-known and well-quoted from the series. It’s a line that people have made into graphics, tattoos, art, and more.
“IT IS OUR CHOICES, HARRY, THAT SHOW WHAT WE TRULY ARE, FAR MORE THAN OUR ABILITIES.”
While most of the time people get this quote mostly right, many times people say “who” instead of “what.” This is a small change, but a significant one. Since this moment is such an important one in the series and really defines the differences between Harry Potter and Voldemort, knowing the right phrasing will make you feel like a better fan.
Hermione On Bravery
This is a movie quote that is spoken by Hermione near the end of Sorcerer’s Stone when Harry has to leave Hermione and Ron after the giant chess match. In many ways, this quote undervalues Hermione’s important contributions to the series, but the point of the quote does make sense. This is another quote that many people misconstrue a little and often add extra words to. She doesn’t say “there are much more important things like friendship and bravery” but instead is a little more succinct.
“ME? BOOKS AND CLEVERNESS. THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS: FRIENDSHIP AND BRAVERY.”
Remembering To Turn On The Light
This is another memorable Dumbledore quote that is inspiring and speaks to the series’ messages of love and light casting out darkness. However, it’s easy to get one important word wrong when retelling this line. Instead of, “times,” it can be easy to say “places” instead. This mistake makes sense as places can be dark and times is a little more of a general term. So, it makes sense that many people say this quote slightly wrong. However, Dumbledore is referring to dark times, or dark periods, of life.
“BUT, YOU KNOW, HAPPINESS CAN BE FOUND EVEN IN THE DARKEST OF TIMES, IF ONE ONLY REMEMBERS TO TURN ON THE LIGHT.”
Always
This quote said by Snape is another iconic moment from the series. This moment caused many people to feel that Snape was redeemed while others feel it made him even worse. When Dumbledore asks Snape the question, Snape’s simple reply is easy to remember. There are many tattoos and artworks of this one word. However, many people forget the question that came before it and just focuses on the actual word instead.
“AFTER ALL THIS TIME?’ ‘ALWAYS,’ SAID SNAPE.”
Priorities
This is another hilarious and memorable quote from the movies. Ron Weasley says this in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone after Hermione says her equally iconic line, “ We could have all been killed - or worse, expelled.” The way Ron delivers this line is pretty dang funny, so it’s no wonder people remember it. But, it’s easy to add an extra word to this phrase that was never really there. Sometimes, people mistake the quote to say “she really needs to sort out her priorities.”
“SHE NEEDS TO SORT OUT HER PRIORITIES.”
Dealing With Pain
Dumbledore really is the king of Harry Potter quotes. He has multiple of the most quoted and remembered lines from the entire series, and many of his lines are the ones that illuminate something deep or insightful such as this quote which speaks to many people on a personal level and also reveals what Harry is going through.
“NUMBING THE PAIN FOR A WHILE WILL MAKE IT WORSE WHEN YOU FINALLY FEEL IT.”
Also, sometimes he has some funny things to say, too. In this quote, remember not to say the word “only” between “will” and “make.”
Levio-saaaaaah
This is another quote from young Hermione in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. People love to quote this line because it’s funny and a little silly, not to mention a little bit snarky. The way people get this quote wrong is by pronouncing the spell incorrectly. Just like Ron, the pronunciation part of this quote is tricky and a little bit nuanced. Just be sure to add that soft r sound on the end of “leviosar.”
“IT’S LEVIOSA, NOT LEVIOSAR.”
