Dumbledore has some of the best quotes of any of the characters from Harry Potter. Considering all he has been through in his life and his age when the series is happening, it’s no wonder he has a lot of insight to offer. Many of Dumbledore’s most illuminating quotes have to do with magic. Dumbledore has a lot of knowledge about magic that is deeper than just wand waving, and he also sees the magic in other things in life such as music and relationships.
To celebrate the magic of the Harry Potter series, we put together a list of the ten best Dumbledore quotes about magic.
10. "YOU WOULD BE PROTECTED BY AN ANCIENT MAGIC OF WHICH HE KNOWS..."
"...which he despises and has therefore always underestimated."
When talking about magic, Dumbledore has more information than most. He conditionally talks to Harry about how magic is more than just spells and potions. The deepest magic in the world has to do with things like love and connection.
He always tells Harry that his most powerful magic has to do with the fact that his mother died to protect him which left a powerful protection over him that Voldemort could never understand.
9. “IN DREAMS, WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT’S ENTIRELY OUR OWN.”
When it comes to magic, there’s a lot of things that can be considered magical that aren’t just saying things like Accio and Alohomora. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Dumbledore talks about the magic that is having dreams. It’s true that dreams can seem like a magical landscape full of fantasies and wonder. One of the best things about Dumbledore is how he sees the magic that exists outside of the wizarding world.
8. “WHEN ONE WIZARD SAVES ANOTHER WIZARD’S LIFE, IT CREATES A CERTAIN BOND BETWEEN THEM.”
This is another of Dumbledore’s quotes about the deeper kind of magic. The biggest thing that gives Harry an edge of Voldemort is the deep magic from his mother that is protecting him. Dumbledore also explains another kind of magic that happens when someone saves another’s life.
Harry creates a connection with Wormtail that ends up saving his life later on. Dumbledore is one of the few people that know about this kind of magic.
7. "OF LOVE, LOYALTY, AND INNOCENCE, VOLDEMORT KNOWS NOTHING..."
"...that they all have a power beyond his own, a power beyond the reach of any magic."
In another instance of Dumbledore talking about the importance of love, Dumbledore points out that this kind of magic has nothing to do with being a witch or wizard. These things he mentions, love, loyalty, and innocence, are something that humans of all kinds can possess, and these great values can transform the world. While Voldemort doesn’t understand these beautiful things, Dumbledore does, and he makes sure Harry understands that.
6. “LET US STEP INTO THE NIGHT AND PURSUE THAT FLIGHTY TEMPTRESS, ADVENTURE.”
While this quote might not be exactly about magic, it does have something magical about it. Dumbledore might often offer a lot of quotes about wisdom, love, and other serious topics, but he also has a more lighthearted and humorous side.
He is someone who can appreciate the excitement and magic of life such as things like adventure and friendship, and these are definitely things that we can all be inspired by.
5. “YOU ARE PROTECTED, IN SHORT, BY YOUR ABILITY TO LOVE!”
This idea of love being the most powerful form of magic is one of the biggest themes from the Harry Potter series. While when Harry is told this by Voldemort, he doesn’t necessarily appreciate it because he wants something else, it’s love that allows him to beat Voldemort in the end. His mother's protection keeps him safe in many ways, and Harry’s own ability to love is one of his biggest strengths throughout the series.
4. “IT IS OUR CHOICES THAT SHOW WHAT WE TRULY ARE FAR MORE THAN OUR ABILITIES."
This is probably one of Dumbledore's most well-known quotes overall. While it isn’t about wand-waving magic, it is about something really important. Dumbledore always tells Harry that choices are more important than circumstances.
This is a quote that illustrates that magical ability isn’t the most important thing.
3. “TO HAVE BEEN LOVED SO DEEPLY, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON WHO LOVED US IS GONE, WILL GIVE US SOME PROTECTION FOREVER.”
This is another beautiful quote that speaks to the long-lasting magical protection that Lily Potter’s sacrifice created. While there is no deep magic in the real world, there is definitely something to be said about how being deeply loved by someone else can act as a sort of metaphysical protection. Love is a powerful force, and Dumbledore is always sure to talk about its importance.
2. “AH, MUSIC. A MAGIC BEYOND ALL WE DO HERE!”
Dumbledore can also appreciate the magic in many other things. Music is something that has an emotional impact on many of us, and it does seem to have a magic all its own. Dumbledore isn't shy about saying how he feels when he gets overwhelmed by the beauty of something, and, while sometimes he can have a bit of a twinkle in his eye when he says these kinds of things, it’s clear he means them.
1. "WORDS ARE, IN MY NOT-SO-HUMBLE OPINION, OUR MOST INEXHAUSTIBLE SOURCE OF MAGIC..."
"...capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it."
This quote about magic is definitely one of Dumbledore’s best especially because it has sort of a meta connection. Words do have a lot of power in the world and can both heal and hurt. Words, as in the words that are written to create the Harry Potter books, also brought the magic of the world into existence which is something pretty magical.