20 Harry Potter Quotes That’ll Inspire Your Kids To Be Brave

Bravery is not something that can be readily taught. And oftentimes as a parent, inspiring bravery in kids requires throwing them out to the big, scary world and letting them fend for themselves. It prescribes stepping back, staying quiet, and trusting that they’re a lot stronger than their small stature suggests. It can feel tempting to shield them from these scary experiences, but logically we know that it’s exactly what they need to grow into the courageous child we all hope to have and to brag about. And if we’re being honest, these “scary” experiences aren’t usually much more than being the first at bat at a Little League game or a daunting ballet recital.

Luckily, we can turn to fictional characters like those in Harry Potter, those of which are in much more precarious situations than our kids will ever be in, to teach us all some courage. From Neville Longbottom to Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter himself, Hogwarts pupils are an embodiment of daring tenacity. Here are the best Harry Potter quotes that will inspire your kids to be brave…even if they aren’t battling Lord Voldemort.

1. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” – Albus Dumbledore
2. “You said it wasn’t just memorizing a bunch of spells, you said it was just you and your brains and your guts — well, wasn’t that what Snape was saying? That it really comes down to being brave and quick-thinking?” – Hermione Granger
3. “To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.” ― Albus Dumbledore
4. “I mean, it’s sort of exciting, isn’t it, breaking the rules?” — Hermione Granger
5. “I’m going to keep going until I succeed — or die. Don’t think I don’t know how this might end. I’ve known it for years.” – Harry Potter
6. “The thing about growing up with Fred and George…is that you sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” – Ginny Weasley
7. “‘Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it. You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you. I ask you to demonstrate your courage one more time. I ask you to tell us what happened.’” – Albus Dumbledore
8. ‘Books! And clearness! There are more important things — friendship and bravery and — oh Harry — be careful!’” – Hermione Granger
9. “Time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead.” – Harry Potter
10. “‘Remember Cedric. 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.’” – Albus Dumbledore
11. “‘Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself.’” – Hermione Granger
12. “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – Albus Dumbledore
13. “‘I’m going to keep going until I succeed — or die. Don’t think I don’t know how this might end. I’ve known it for years.’” – Harry Potter
14. “‘You might below in Gryffindor, Where dwell brave at heart, Their daring, nerve, and chivalry, Set Gryffindors apart.’” – The Sorting Hat
15. “Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.” – Albus Dumbledore
16. “What’s comin’ will come an’ we’ll meet it when it does.” – Reubus Hagrid
17. “It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” ― Albus Dumbledore
18. “‘We’re all going to keep fighting, Harry. You know that?’” – Neville Longbottom
19. “‘You said it once before…that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve have time, haven’t we? We’re with you whatever happens.” – Hermione Granger
20. “It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.” — Albus Dumbledore