The Wizarding World is full of many shady characters, but the most despicable is undoubtedly Lord Voldemort. Often referred to by magical folk as the "Dark Lord," Voldemort has committed many heinous acts which have resulted in him being feared by much of the wizarding population in Harry Potter.
The Dark Lord's name alone is a source of terror for many individuals within this universe, which demonstrates the immense power that Voldemort possesses. This sinister might that the Death Eaters' leader holds over the community is reflected throughout the movies, where he has delivered some of the most evil quotes.
Good And Evil
“There is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it,”
Harry Potter's early beginnings are a strange beast, with the tone and casting choices noticeably different from later entries. While audiences are most familiar with Ralph Fiennes' Voldemort, the part was originally played by Ian Hart. In The Sorcerer's Stone, Hart's Voldemort delivers an especially villainous quote whilst confronting The Boy Who Lived.
These words reflect the wizard's more corrupt philosophy. Voldemort is a man who seeks the ultimate power. He Who Must Not Be Named views strength as coming not from inherent goodness, but from dominion over those who try to oppose him, demonstrating his tyrannical attitude.
Come To Die
“Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived... come to die,”
Deathly Hallows Part 1 features some of the best quotes in the Harry Potter franchise, as well as one of Voldemort's most shocking lines. The Dark Lord's cutting remark comes as Harry bravely confronts his arch-nemesis in the Forbidden Forest.
Voldemort's words are cold and heartless, as he shows no concern for the difficult decision Harry has had to make. It's a line that also delightfully wrongfoots the audience, as it teases viewers with the Chosen One's demise, only for the famous individual to eventually come back to life.
The Killing Curse
“Step aside, Wormtail, so that I can give our guest a proper greeting. Avada Kedavra!”
The greatest movies feature a dynamic opening in order to draw viewers in. Goblet Of Fire follows this unwritten rule, as it begins with an effective preliminary scene. In this sequence, an elderly resident of Little Hangleton village stumbles across Voldemort discussing his latest plans with Wormtail.
The quote is a neat demonstration of the Dark Lord's callous personality. Upon encountering this harmless Muggle, Voldemort proceeds to unceremoniously murder the unfortunate individual, despite how he posed no threat to their plans. It's a clear indicator of He Who Must Not Be Named's uncaring attitude, as he not only kills the man without hesitation but jokes about offering him "a proper greeting."
A Merciful Lord
"After tonight if they speak of you, they’ll only speak of how you begged for death. And how I being a merciful Lord… obliged,"
For Harry Potter's first few movies, Voldemort is seen to be in a weakened state. Goblet Of Fire sees the Dark Lord return with a renewed sense of energy. Harry is partly responsible for restoring Voldemort's full power, and his indirect involvement results in one of He Who Must Not Be Named's most evil lines.
The dialogue effectively conveys the Dark Lord's twisted sense of morality. His words suggest he will place Harry through torture so unforgivable that he will "beg" for his death, implying Voldemort's belief that by ending The Boy Who Lived's life he will be doing the young child a favor.
The Diary's Impact
“Funny, isn't it? The damage a silly little book can do. Especially in the hands of a silly little girl,”
Voldemort is mostly seen as an adult throughout the series, but the movies have also given us glimpses at his childhood days. In Chamber Of Secrets, viewers are shown the Dark Lord as a child, when he was known by the name Tom Riddle. The climax brings young Tom to Harry's present time, where he reveals how he used Ginny to open the Chamber Of Secrets.
Tom displays an abhorrent attitude towards Ginny, who has delivered some of the most inspirational Harry Potter scenes. He shows little care for the despicable acts he has made the poor child commit, or for the lasting emotional impact it has left on Ginny, making this one of Tom's most wicked quotes.
Look At Me!
"Don't you turn your back on me, Harry Potter! I want you to look at me when I kill you! I want to see the light leave your eyes!"
The Harry Potter series has seen some devastating endings, which leave Harry in an emotional place. A prime example of this is the climax to Goblet Of Fire, which sees The Boy Who Lived witness the murder of Cedric Diggory. Voldemort's harsh words come as Harry attempts to escape, following the dark wizard's threats to end his life.
Voldemort's proclamation is cruel, reflecting the wizard's more heartless side. The Dark Lord's sheer desperation to see his mortal enemy perish effectively communicates the tyrannical wizard's repugnant nature. Voldemort's immoral dialogue here only serves to traumatize the teen boy further, after bearing witness to Cedric's horrific murder.
Least Loved...
“Least loved by the mother who craved a daughter. Least loved, by the girl who prefers your friend...”
Producer David Heyman's decision to split Deathly Hallows into two movies has proven to be one of the franchise's smartest creative choices. Deathly Hallows Part 1 also provides one of Lord Voldemort's most malicious quotes. As Ron Weasley - who some consider lucky to have survived - tries to destroy his locket Horcrux, the Dark Lord's soul taunts Harry's friend with some nasty claims.
This quote acts as an apt demonstration of He Who Must Not Be Named's more manipulative nature. Here, Voldemort utilizes the power of words as a means to turn one of Harry's most loyal allies against him. However, what truly makes this an evil quote are the words the Dark Lord opts to use, which with their demoralizing nature act as a way to emotionally abuse poor Ron Weasley.
A New Target
“Killing Mudbloods doesn't matter to me anymore. For many months now, my new target has been you,”
The Harry Potter movies cover many big themes, but an especially prominent topic is the notion of prejudice. Lord Voldemort is a character who displays this most undesirable character trait. This is shown in the climax of Chamber Of Secrets, as Tom Riddle makes his views clear in the titular chamber.
In this most harmful of lines, Riddle casually refers to "killing Mudbloods." The Dark Lord's declaration is sadistic and shows a distinct lack of empathy for the deaths he is responsible for, using a term considered to be discriminatory to Muggle-born wizards. He then proceeds to announce Harry as his "new target," a decision made more heinous by the fact that Harry by this point is only 12 years of age.
What Does Death Mean?
“Kill me now, Dumbledore. Do it, if death means nothing,”
Harry and Voldemort share a unique connection, which often results in Harry receiving many disturbing visions. Order Of The Phoenix explores this link to a further degree. The movie's climax not only sees Voldemort participate in a duel with Dumbledore - who has delivered some of the most enduring Harry Potter quotes about friendship - but he also discovers how to use this link for his own gain.
Possessing Harry's body, The Dark Lord tries to use The Boy Who Lived's own voice against him. Hearing the Dark Lord utter these words from Harry's mouth provides a particularly unsettling moment, and reflects how far He Who Must Not Be Named is prepared to go in order to achieve his aims.
Join Me In The Forbidden Forest...
“Join me in the Forbidden Forest, and confront your fate. If you do not do this, I shall kill every last man, woman and child who tries to conceal you from me,”
The Harry Potter series frequently poses the view that Voldemort lacks the capacity to love. Deathly Hallows Part 2 takes this further, as it presents the Dark Lord at his most evil. One apt example comes in the wizard's words when he requests that Harry faces him in the Forbidden Forest.
Voldemort's determination to finally kill his arch-enemy results in him threatening the lives of those who seek to protect him, showing a complete disregard for human life. His words convey the message of a man who holds a callous indifference to murder, making this a truly evil remark.